State Department

Betting on the Come

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declared Wednesday that “our strategy is right, our strategy is working, and if we stick to it, we can achieve the mission of establishing an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself, and …

Two of the Time 100

…announced Wednesday morning are familiar to Battleland readers: Time has former defense secretary Robert Gates writing about his ex-colleague, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells us about military mental-health mobilizer Barbara van Dahlen, …

Beautifying the Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden, some say, was located somewhere inside modern-day Iraq. So it’s no surprise that the U.S. is trying to improve on God’s work, seeking “gardening services” at the U.S. Consulate in Erbil.

The overview of the contract solicitation, posted Monday, notes:

Maintenance and appearance of the grass, shrubbery,

War Fatigue

The latest New York Times-CBS poll confirms what has become increasingly clear: nearly seven of 10 Americans want out of Afghanistan.

This should come as no surprise.

What comes as a surprise is the FDA-approved sugar …

Afghan Mission: Implausible

Bored sitting around your desk? Want some action for a change? Well, the Agency for International Development has just the gig for you: AID is seeking a “senior press liaison” for its Afghanistan outpost to “ensure the production of clear, powerful news advisories and releases.” You’ll be expected to “tell the USAID story …

Pleasant Baghdad Bedtime Reading

The State Department inspector general has just issued a report concluding that the Emergency Action Plans for the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad are adequate. There’s a lot that’s blacked out, but you can still check out the list of EAP annexes:



Sweet dreams…

“Bye-Bye Baghdad”

The U.S. is planning to cut the 16,000 personnel it has assigned to its embassy in Baghdad by up to half, the New York Times reports Wednesday. Apparently, the diplomats feel they’re too threatened by the locals now that the U.S. military has pulled out. As some of Battleland’s uniformed friends will say: Typical.

The Nobel Betrayal Prize?

Apparently, three members of the Icelandic Parliament have nominated Army PFC Bradley Manning for the Nobel Peace Prize. On February 1, 2012, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, Margrét Tryggvadóttir, and Þór Saari, all members of the Icelandic Parliament, sent their nominating letter to the Nobel nominating committee.

This is, of course, …

Talking About Talking To The Taliban

It seems to be a hot issue, for reasons that aren’t completely clear. Everyone involved knows the U.S. has to come to some sort of accommodation with at least some elements of the Taliban, even if it has to begin in Qatar. …

Jail Time

Looks like the State Department is seeking someone to build a 920-bed prison in northern Afghanistan for under $10 million. Let’s hope they do a better job of it than the Pentagon did in Iraq.

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