Tag Archives: Iraq

Col. Douglas Macgregor on Pentagon Reform

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Standard Podcast [ 47:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Col. Douglas Macgregor, USA (Ret.) is a decorated combat veteran with a Ph.D. in  international relations from UVA.  He is the author of Breaking the Phalanx  Warrior’s Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting and Tranformation Under Fire and is a frequent guest on television and radio news shows.
 
On the show we cover-
  • Cold War as extension of World War Two
  • Liberal interventionism
  • Global War on Terror as mistaken conception
  • Al Queda;  Afghanistan, Pakistan , North Africa, Iraq, Philippines
  • Threats v. Opportunities  (black and white thinking v. multiperspectival thinking)
  • Arab/ Muslim Awakening
  • Iran as boogeyman, Hezbollah in Lebanon
  • U.S. alliances

O’Brien, DuBois, & Ostrolenk on Intelligence Reform

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Standard Podcast [ 58:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
In this special edition of the Michael Ostrolenk Show, Michael co-hosts Power Peace Radio with Rob DuBois.  Their guest is intelligence expert Peter O’Brien and they discuss improving national security intelligence by learning from past mistakes as well as implementing an interdisciplinary team approach and using different types of thinking.

Peter O’Brien has more than 30 years of successful leadership, management and planning experience in leading organizations from a handful to several thousand, from a single site to orchestrating simultaneous operations at three-dozen locations on four separate continents. Mr. O’Brien’s Navy career included ten years at sea, more than a dozen years stationed overseas and multiple deployments, providing the opportunity to study, practice and execute the widest possible range of leadership and planning skills. He has participated in planning and execution of military operations from the tactical to the strategic level in the Middle East, North Africa and East Asia. He is a recognized SME in strategic planning, intelligence, the Middle East and the Far East.

Man Up and Humble Down

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Standard Podcast [ 35:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Retired Navy SEAL and author of Powerful Peace Robert DuBois is back for part III (part I, part II) of the conversation with Michael Ostrolenk. In this podcast Rob emphasizes that a meaningful peace between individuals, groups, or countries requires dialog, trust, respect, and recognizing the dignity of unfamiliar cultures and individuals. In summary, man up and be accountable for one’s mistakes and humble down to listen & learn from others’ points of view.  Rob depicts his gradual realization of these truths through vivid glimpses of his journeys across the globe. Hard lessons learned from Turkish bars, make-shift strip clubs, and Perdue Chicken all come to light in today’s exchange. Learn more at PowerfulPeace.net about Rob’s book and his work to promote smart power, cultural competency and ultimately stop the needless harm and loss resulting from misplaced and unbridled hate.

Keeping the peace is more than the ability to kick ass.

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Standard Podcast [ 27:54 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Establishing global security requires a holistic approach not just a superiority in breaking things, explains retired Navy SEAL Robert DuBois in part II (part I, part III) of his conversation with Michael Ostrolenk.  To illustrate this (and in a nod to the late Stephen Covey) Rob divides his book, Powerful Peace, into four sections: body, mind, heart, and soul. In addition to discussing these 4 divisions of the book, Rob reveals a personal experience from Abu Ghraib prison that prompted a greater appreciation of alternate perspectives.  Learn more at PowerfulPeace.net about Rob’s book and his work to promote smart power, cultural competency and ultimately stop the needless harm and loss resulting from misplaced and unbridled hate.

Moving from “Us vs. Them” to Powerful Peace

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Standard Podcast [ 39:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Retired Navy SEAL Robert DuBois witnessed the September 11th attack on America live on TV while deployed in an Arab country. No cheers were heard from the Arab SEALs watching in the same room with Rob and his American SEAL team.  The Arab SEALs were appalled and angered by this terrorist act of war. It isn’t simply “us versus them” realized Rob. In this podcast with Michael, Rob recounts this and other “lessons on peace from a lifetime at war,” the subtitle of his book Powerful Peace.  The two dimensional “us versus them” paradigm that’s dominated human history is antiquated and irrelevant in today’s connected world. It’s time to become accountable for the consequences of irresponsible use of force, explains Mr. DuBois.  Learn more at PowerfulPeace.net about Rob’s book and his work to promote smart power, cultural competency and ultimately stop the needless harm and loss resulting from misplaced and unbridled hate.