History

Information War

Self government and a republic in name only

By John Biver

Republican Party energy is down for a number of reasons. Republican leaders didn’t accomplish enough while they held power and too often governed like Democrats. Republican Party and elected officials have also preferred to keep grassroots energy at a safe distance. Many of our leaders see their life as complicated enough without having to get involved with or listen to outsiders. The fact that they can’t win majorities without a lot of volunteer support or that some of the input they’d receive could be quite valuable hasn’t mattered to them.

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Information War

A Sherman-Like Warning Needed for Republicans

By John Biver

What happens when the Republican Party forfeits the public education system and large sections of the media to the political left, fails to modernize its party organization or repair its brand, and actively disdains and distances itself from its allied state level grassroots organizations? We’re seeing the results today in Barack Obama’s opinion poll numbers.

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Dispatches

D-Day + 64 years

By John Biver

Visiting places of incredible bravery, sacrifice, and seeing the final resting place of so many thousands of Americans is a powerful experience. Walking on Omaha Beach, between the white marble crosses at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, or in a Belgian forest just outside Bastogne brings an incredible sense of awe – even for someone who has never had a problem feeling pride in his country.

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Dispatches

Acts of war…and suicide

By John Biver

From the Chicago Tribune last week (March 3, 2008): Army struggles with rising suicide A soldier’s tale illustrates the prevention battle inside the service as 2007 set a new high for troops taking their…

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Dispatches

Notes on the War in Iraq

By John Biver

My series from late 2007: 1. Since the Terrorists Target Public Opinion, So Should We 2. September 11, 2001 and the Reality of the Threat 3. What Didn’t Work Before 9/11 and What Needed…

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Dispatches

Mideast, Midwest, over there, over here

By John Biver

Our concentration is typically focused on Illinois political and governmental matters. National issues – and especially foreign policy – we leave to our allies with larger budgets and bigger staffs. Occasionally, however, events occur or words are…

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Dispatches

Baby Boomers, Barack Obama, and War

By John Biver

“Was it moral suasion that made Qaddafi see the wisdom of giving up his weapons of mass destruction? Or Iran agree for the first time to spot nuclear inspections? It was the suasion of…

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