“I think we should be prepared for a spate of inconsequential or even frivolous stories about what happens when the policy is ended – from both opponents and advocates of the policy’s termination.

“In my opinion, it will take at least a couple of years to know just what impact the new situation will have on readiness, recruitment, morale, etc. I expect there won’t be much of a ripple, just some noise from expected quarters.”

Contact Michael Corgan at 617-353-3553 or mcorgan@bu.edu

“The president is walking a tightrope because a lot depends on what the Libyan rebels do or do not do.

“Regime change is difficult. Who will emerge as the leader?”

Watch the entire NECN interview here.

Contact Michael Corgan, 617-353-3553, mcorgan@bu.edu

“It seems to me that the demurrals about the mission from NATO members Turkey and Lithuania have to do with the fear of mission creep. To wit, how do strikes against Qaddafi’s ground forces serve the UNSC mission of protecting civilian life when the threat to civilians seems to have come mostly from the air?”

Contact Michael Corgan, 617-353-3553, mcorgan@bu.edu

“They’re right and we’re wrong.  We’ve done about all we could for Karzai and his cronies and its time to cut losses (as we should have done in Vietnam).

“What we’ve mostly shown in the ten years of our efforts and sacrifices, which on the whole have been pretty good, is that Afghanistan is a place on the map and not a coherent country.  If it’s ever to be run as most in the west think a country should be run, the Afghan people collectively are going to have to decide to abandon tribalism and traditionalism and do it themselves.

“We should do what DeGaulle did in Algeria: declare ourselves the winner and go home.”

Contact Michael Corgan, 617-353-3553, mcorgan@bu.edu

Michael Corgan (contact 617-353-3553, mcorgan@bu.edu)

“There are a couple of things to keep in mind.

“First, much of what goes on in the North has to do with the pending succession crisis.

“Next, the South is trying very hard to assert itself, even against Japan, as a major actor in the region in the face of China’s growing prominence. This is one way to do it.

“Finally, a speculation: The North must be aware of how the U.S. and Israel teamed up to retard Iran’s nuclear weapons development. How are they fixed to handle such a cyber assault now? One surely must be in the works.”

William Keylor (contact 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu)

“Since the early 1990s, North Korea used the threat of developing a nuclear capability to extract economic benefits from South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.  This strategy of nuclear blackmail was actually quite successful for many years. Now, after suffering two attacks last year, South Korea is again willing to engage in negotiations.

“Based on previous experience, Pyongyang will demand extensive economic assistance, primarily heating oil but several other items as well. If it receives it, North Korea will lie low for a while and, when the economic situation continues to deteriorate, it will renew its belligerency in order to pressure its foreign suppliers to give more.

“If this nuclear blackmail fails to secure the needed aid, then it will up the ante, perhaps by testing  another longer-range missile, or by conducting another nuclear test. This is a desparate government facing a looming succession crisis as well as economic conditions that would lead to a popular upheaval in practically every other country in the world.”