The Great Game Revisited

The best espionage fiction is written by writers who are truly familiar with the way espionage works. Even some over the top authors like Ian Fleming manage to make their works credible by inserting a lot of non-fiction elements into their novels. Such authors like David Ignatious maintain close contact with members of the intelligence community and could be considered outside experts.

Intelligence officers must read a lot. Newspapers, magazines and internet publications, usually in two or three different languages. As an espionage author, I know that what is published by the media is a veil of lies. I need to read in between the lines of many publications to get some idea of where the truth is.

In diplomacy, stated objectives are not meant to inform but to cover real intentions. When I read that we're in Iraq to spread democracy, I know this is total humbug. Is it the oil, or an excuse to place troops next to Iran (again oil)?

When we help establish and back the likes of Saakashvili in Georgia is not to bring democracy there, but to destabilize the Russian southern soft-belly. Right here is where we enter the biggest problem Barrack Obama will either face and solve or let things slide and make matters worse.

The problem is Afghanistan, it doesn't have oil, Osama Bin Ladin and his cohorts are no longer there, and the local population has turned against us. All experts agree that this war  is un-winnable. So why fight there?

We have all heard the lame stated reasons: The war on terror, stabilization, democracy. So far, the only result has been the destabilization of the whole of southern Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan and now including India. What we have not heard  much is the imperial ambitions of the Neocon Cold Warriors sheltered in such institutions like The American Enterprise Institute and The New American Century. Chenney, Rumsfeldt, Pearl, Wolfowitz are some of the leaders. There are other less known Neocons still entrenched in key positions of the Pentagon, State Department and non-government influential organizations.

To them, Afghanistan is a golden opportunity for geopolitical gain. As long as we are fighting 'terrorism' we have legitimate reason for a presence and meddling in such places as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, destabilizing Central Asia and debilitating Russia. By causing trouble in Georgia and Central Asia, the Neocons believe they have the perfect pincer movement against Russia.

In reality, what they are achieving is placing our troops in an indefensible position while baiting the Bear to the north.

The Neocons are the same people who brought us into Iraq. They see the U.S. as the new Roman Empire. Their misguided objectives have created more enemies, have helped  destabilize our economy and subvert our constitution.

The new American President  will have his hands full.