Marine Four Star General James I. Jones

[deziloooooo]

For the few here who are interested in the opinions of distinguished leaders of our society, both Civilian and Military, folks who have been there and have knowledge and ideas that are worth listening to, this article featuring retired Four star General James I Jones, a former Marine General with a distinguished career in high leadership positions and also security adviser to the President, might be of interest to consider listening to .

There are links to specific topics you can explore and for those interested , I recommend the article for your reading pleasure.
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www.stimson.org/spotlight/general-ret-james-l-jones-takes-the-stage-at-stimson-/
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Jones
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Spotlight / General (RET) James L. Jones Takes the Stage at Stimson
Spotlight
General (RET) James L. Jones Takes the Stage at StimsonJune 16, 2011

General (RET) James L. Jones joined Lincoln Bloomfield, Jr., Stimson's chairman of the board, on Tuesday for the eighth installment of his series, the Chairman's Forum. Gen. Jones and Ambassador Bloomfield covered issues that ranged from the nonmilitary aspects of national security to New START and NATO during a one-hour discussion. (Read the complete transcript).

Gen. Jones offered thoughts on:

◦Revising the 20th century national security establishment for the 21st century:

"We have a system that worked well in the 20th century, when we were the unquestioned global leader in so many areas. We need to take another look at ourselves in order to be competitive. ...Some of our institutions and elected representatives are living in a different century, they're not living in the environment. It's time to really take a look at our laws, our regulations, our policies, and to empower the greatness of America. When we face challenges, we always overcome them. And we are definitely being challenged."
◦

Revolution and the future in Egypt:

"You can be sure that, just as 30 years ago, when Iran fell, there was a cry for openness and transparency of government and better lives for the people, and look what we got. It didn't quite work out that way. You can be sure that underneath the radar, forces that do not want this democratic movement, or do not want Egypt to emerge with this type of government and this type of society, are hard at work on us. Egypt is one of the pivotal countries that we really have to watch. And it's an opportunity for us to lead in a different way, to bring economic incentives. I think that the administration has already shown a little courage here in terms of an economic package, but it needs to be bigger than that, and it needs to be international in scope."
◦

Partisan Politics and New START:

"We have to get back to a more civil political dialogue ... On issues of national security, different opinions are fine, but partisanship shouldn't play a role. I'll use the example of the START treaty. ...At the end of the day, the United States was relegated to watching one of the most important treaties of our time, relegated to a lame-duck session in Congress that was purely partisan. ... It diminished us in the eyes of the world."
◦On

NATO moving forward:

"One of my favorite sayings is 'a vision without resources is a hallucination.' NATO has wonderful intentions. ... The aspirations of the alliance are very good, but the realism that backs up those aspirations doesn't really stand the test."

To view the Chairman's Forum with Gen. James L. Jones in its entirety, go to: www.stimson.org/video/chairmans-forum-general-james-jones/

About the Chairman's Forum:

The Chairman's Forum is a strategic conversation, featuring respected opinion leaders in the foreign and security policy arena. Bloomfield holds these informal discussions about eight times a year to address the most relevant global issues we face today. Recent guests include Alain Le Roy, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping; Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal, and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors; and Senator Lindsey Graham (R - SC).

[henryclay]

Thanks, desi. But just putting two things together here will turn the liberals off, the first is the knowledge that Jones is a retired Commandant of the Marine Corps. The other is that he opposed repeal of DADT.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 24, 2011 15:32:00 GMT -5 henryclay said:

Thanks, desi. But just putting two things together here will turn the liberals off, the first is the knowledge that Jones is a retired Commandant of the Marine Corps. The other is that he opposed repeal of DADT.

Well I am a liberal. OK middle to the left..and he isn't turning me off..he was quite a Marine when active and still is doing good stuff..highly decorated too as a young man it seems with the Silver Star, and Bronze with the V..[I know some branches give those out to officers a bit freely , especially if thought of as future Generals, Colonials, but don't believe Marines are one of those branches} and as far as DADT, he might be against it, but there are many others too who feel that way, especially if they are from the old school, but i am sure if he was active, he would just go with the flow if it was the rule.

I read his thoughts in the article and made a lot of sense, followed the links, especially liked his feeling of where partisan politics, while understanding the necessity in our way of governance, should end, example was the nuclear disarmament treaty, strictly a partisan bashing, and while he was bashing the pubs on that one I know if the shoe was on the other foot , he would have no problem sticking it up the others back side too.

I will continue to stay away from the normal threads here, the same old same old, beyond a and a occasionally , even a thought , let all have fun as I scroll by, but will post articles I find of interest, and if a few are reading them, even commenting occasionally, I am content.

The General, hell of a man..glad to post his ideas..glad I came across them, it's been a while since I went to the "Stimson" site...

[henryclay]

Good for you desi. Keep up the good work. Learn more about General Jones and men like him. Heck, you're liable to find being a right of the middle conservative is what gave us the country a lot of people are trying to dismantle. On the other hand, those same people have apparently not studied up on what happens next. Russia, France, Yugoslavia, Greece, Iran and a few others should be enough to turn most stomachs.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 24, 2011 16:45:18 GMT -5 henryclay said:

Good for you desi. Keep up the good work. Learn more about General Jones and men like him. Heck, you're liable to find being a right of the middle conservative is what gave us the country a lot of people are trying to dismantle. On the other hand, those same people have apparently not studied up on what happens next. Russia, France, Yugoslavia, Greece, Iran and a few others should be enough to turn most stomachs.

Henry..i know all about Marines, have worked with them, supported them and once they saved my ass..also know they all don't walk on water either..though most I met don't believe that.. ;D

[henryclay]

Well then, try following the thinking behind Allen West. He's not a Marine. Never was. Maybe Colin Powell, even.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I refer the good general back to the Reagan administration- the most successful foreign policy in the history of mankind. We defeated a superpower virtually without firing a shot. We came back from the brink of "no longer the unquestioned global leader" to the unquestioned leader. Reagan didn't worry too much about "in the eyes of the world"-- he WALKED OUT on a non-starter treaty and that eventually got us the successful START treaty-- this general speaks as though START was formed out of a vacuum- a kind of national security "big bang theory" and completely ignores that-- not only that, but he also acts as if the Bush adminstration never entered into the "Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Strategic Offensive Reductions". The what? Yeah- the general should read up.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 24, 2011 16:54:50 GMT -5 henryclay said:

Well then, try following the thinking behind Allen West. He's not a Marine. Never was. Maybe Colin Powell, even.

Powell..now that man, the "walking on water "..mmmmmm

West? naaaa..though I have no problem with his actions as reported and I have read different variations of, that caused him to have to retire...no problem with them at all....beyond possible , being a Lt Col..what he did, that's why we have Seargents..IMHO, at that level, that is where one has to understand the politics of the service and there are always the Judicial types [JAG} who haven't a clue ready to pounce..to make a name for them selves , again, IMHO.

[deziloooooo]

Jun 24, 2011 17:00:24 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

I refer the good general back to the Reagan administration- the most successful foreign policy in the history of mankind. We defeated a superpower virtually without firing a shot. We came back from the brink of "no longer the unquestioned global leader" to the unquestioned leader. Reagan didn't worry too much about "in the eyes of the world"-- he WALKED OUT on a non-starter treaty and that eventually got us the successful START treaty-- this general speaks as though START was formed out of a vacuum- a kind of national security "big bang theory" and completely ignores that-- not only that, but he also acts as if the Bush adminstration never entered into the "Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Strategic Offensive Reductions". The what? Yeah- the general should read up.

I am sure the Good general is a hell of a lot more in tune with those treaties and the actions of then you or I ..definitly me..and to be honest..I am not confident of your expert knowledge on them either..I'll go with the good General..

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Interesting story. Thanks for posting