To answer the closing question on network disruption methods, it’s “yes”. The cure for these networks is constant pressure that induces error, leads to network disruption and a smaller/weaker reestablished network after each successful disruption. Whether you concentrate on one aspect or another or do a full court press at all points, the worse the total pressure, the more likely you will induce the dons to mess up and get captured, leading to less experienced figures moving up the ranks, weakening and eventually destroying the network.

As for Dr. Barnett’s solutions, I think the article mischaracterizes them.

And Barnett is. It’s not like he isn’t capable of doing quantitative analysis and secondly, the underlying premise of PNM revolves around economics, not military power projection. His goal was to put military strategy in the context of everything else, not to write a treatise primarily on the nuances of economic theory.

Barnett may not be a finance expert, but he has worked with Canter-Fitzgerald, and his research with them dealt with the precise issue here; rule-sets. Anyone attempting a global theory like this needs to be familiar enough with the relevant fields.

Feudalism has been defined as the power of the state in private hands, and so by that definition Chirol’s paradigm here would definitely apply in some areas. Somalia is another one which is heating up now; right now it is the warlords, which the U.S. is now apparently helping, fighting the Islamists, a la Afghanistan.

I think that Chirol’s main point deals with an area where the 9/11 attacks brought about a paradigm shift in U.S. foreign policy. Prior to 2001, I was among the many who were skeptical of the whole nation-building idea, but as long as it is undertaken with a proper sense of realism about how difficult it is, I think that is necessary now precisely for the reason that Chirol gives – our enemies need space.

Ahem.

Great post Chirol ! Very well done.

A few comments:

The Middle Ages were also characterized by the twin ideals of the Church and the Holy Roman Empire, two ” universal” myths to tie Christendom together.

A critical node to disrupt in Black globalization networks are the financial hubs that willingly launder blackmarket revenues into ” white” profits. A bagful of diamonds at some point has to become greenbacks.

Tom is getting a rap lately for being an all-government, centralizing, advocate of a security GOSPLAN for the Core. This is a cartoon. Perhaps the emphasis on market and private action in PNM/BFA should have been made more explicit but let’s face it, Dr. Barnett is an expert on military and geopolitical strategy and not an economist or a financial analyst and didn’t delve into those details ( for example the behavior of emerging markets). That does not mean however that he is in favor of “hierarchy” over “networks”.

remember when Princess Leia told Grand Moff Tarkin that the more he tightened his grip, the more systems would slip through his fingers?

that was awesome!

;-)

now, please go back to being serious…