by David Steven | Apr 16, 2007 | Conflict and security, Influence and networks
The winner of the US Army Information Operations Proponent (USIOP) essay-writing competition, Elizabeth Robbins, explores [pdf] the rise of the Milblogger and asks:
(1) “Who speaks for the Army?” (2) “If everyone may speak, what is the impact?” and (3) “What controls, if any, should the Army impose on soldiers?”
Her conclusion?
Military blogs written by those in muddy boots… are a combat multiplier in the information domain… Commanders at every level must boldly accept risk in order to support the rewards and warfighting advantage sthat soldier-authors bring to the information battlespace.
by David Steven | Apr 16, 2007 | Economics and development
For those of you following Wolfowitz’s woes, World Bank President has full coverage, including this response, from a World Bank retiree, to the President’s latest attempt to save his job…
“In his email of April 14, Wolfowitz draws our attention to his ‘significant facts.’ The ‘significant facts’ he omits are:
1) The Board was willing to accept his recusal but had to back down because apparently after subsequent advice from his attorney he had a change of heart and refused to recuse himself on “professional relationship” with his girlfriend. So his offer of recusal was a farce (and the Board saw it as such).
2) Contrary to his assertion that he was only looking after the interests of the Bank, the documents make it abundantly clear that he was only interested in safeguarding Riza’s interests. It was he who devised the package (with Ms. Riza’s help?) rather than HR.
3) Contrary to what he says, he was actively involved in devising the package for Riza, overruling the considerably less generous (and more reasonable) package proposed by HR. He cleverly directs Coll to give Riza an option between the two packages. One has to be stupid to elect to choose the vastly inferior package.
4) He was clearly both negotiating for Riza and turning around and acting like the ‘decider’.
If this is not corruption, I don’t know what is.”
Background here.
