So says Dr. Steve Pieczenik, a person whom I enjoy listening to and has recently joined the blogosphere! Dr. Pieczenik worked on so much in foreign affairs, it's hard to know how to describe him so that you may understand his credibility. Here is just part of his bio from his website:
Dr. Pieczenik was the principal International Crisis Manager and Hostage Negotiator under Secretaries Kissinger and Vance. During this time he developed conflict resolution techniques that were instrumental in saving over five hundred hostages in different terrorist episodes, including the Hanafi Muslim Siege in Washington, DC, the TWA Croatian Hijacking, the Aldo Moro Kidnapping, the JRA Hijacking, the PLO Hijacking, and many other incidents involving terrorists such as Idi Amin, Muammar Quaddafi, Carlos, FARC, Abu Nidal and Saddam Hussein. Based on these experiences, Dr. Pieczenik, along with other senior officials at the State Department developed the mandate to create Delta Force and other quick-strike special forces units that could be used in future hostage situations and international crises. Dr. Pieczenik resigned over President Carter's handling of the Iran Hostage siege. He was recruited by Dr. Richard Solomon to the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA to develop the strategy and tactics using the principles of psychological warfare to dismantle the Soviet Union without the use of military force.He pretty much gave Tom Clancy all his material and is the character upon whom Jack Ryan was based. He is CFR, RAND, State Department, Defense Department, a psychiatrist, and an author.
What I love about listening to Dr. Pieczenik is that he doesn't speak in generalities, but names names, places, dates, and events. That means you've got confidence in what you say and are opening yourself up to possible libel suits. I'm not sure to make of it all, but try to see if and how the information fits with what I have already learned in my ongoing pursuit to get down to brass tacks.
