This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
... The only possible landing site was on the Yazoo River in front of either Chickasaw or Haynes&... more ... The only possible landing site was on the Yazoo River in front of either Chickasaw or Haynes' bluffs. The Campaign On 2 November 1862, Major General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee moved south from Bolivar, Tennessee, to capture northwest Mis-sissippi and ...
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peac... more THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peacetime contingencies effectively. This is an ominous turn, for the RC provides over 70 percent of the US Army's combat support and combat service support. As training dollars shrink and frequent deployments deplete readiness stocks, how will the Army maintain the combat skills of its RC soldiers and units? By using computer-supported simulation exercises, the RC can train effectively and efficiently, but only by adhering to certain basic principles. This article describes computer simulation training and examines several imperatives for enhanced unit training. An Army not at war is training for war, and any training short of combat is simulation.1 Simulation technology has improved dramatically in the past two decades. Before 1980, training exercises used battle-board maps spread across a floor and dice to adjudicate combat action. With computer-supported simulations, the speed and ra...
THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peac... more THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peacetime contingencies effectively. This is an ominous turn, for the RC provides over 70 percent of the US Army's combat support and combat service support. As training dollars shrink and frequent deployments deplete readiness stocks, how will the Army maintain the combat skills of its RC soldiers and units? By using computer-supported simulation exercises, the RC can train effectively and efficiently, but only by adhering to certain basic principles. This article describes computer simulation training and examines several imperatives for enhanced unit training. An Army not at war is training for war, and any training short of combat is simulation.1 Simulation technology has improved dramatically in the past two decades. Before 1980, training exercises used battle-board maps spread across a floor and dice to adjudicate combat action. With computer-supported simulations, the speed and random selection of combat results increased, but the realism of the simulated battlefield still depended on the skill of the observer-controller (O/C) who ran the exercise. By the late 1980s, the development of realistic, fast-paced, interactive, graphically supported simulations such as Brigade/Battalion Battle Simulation (BBS) and Corps Battle Simulation (CBS) escalated the pace and realism of exercises. These simulations replicated the stress of the modern battlefield tactical operations center (TOC). Just when it seemed that simulation gaming had reached its pinnacle, software and hardware developers combined to promise a synthetic theater of war in which troops in the field (live), soldiers in combat simulators (virtual) and staffs in TOCs (constructive) are linked to enhance an exercise's span and realism. Although predicting the next advance in simulation technology is impossible, planners can assume that given current and future resource constraints, computersupported simulation training will remain critical for reserve forces and may become the primary vehicle for training RC staffs. RC units train with limited resources. They generally have only 39 days of formal training each year in which to achieve the Active Component (AC) standard of readiness. Training areas are also scarce, often hours away from a unit's home station. Consequently, a computer-supported simulation exercise, transmitted to an RC unit's home station during a weekend drill, becomes the preferred method of unit staff training. Through remote simulation exercises the AC has access to RC training events, and conversely, RC units can train in AC exercises to improve the relevance of RC training. Remote computer-supported simulation exercises are the affordable method of training the RC.2 Computer-Supported Simulation Exercises A typical computer-supported battle staff simulation exercise involves a brigade-level headquarters and three to five battalion-level subordinate units, each in a field TOC. Computer work-stations are shipped to the battalions' home stations and manned by representatives of their companies. These company role players set up a mini-TOC at each workstation and work off posted maps and the workstation monitors' graphic display to carry out battalion orders and fight the battle. The workstation role players transmit battlefield information produced by simulation-fed workstation printers to the battalion staff using organic unit communications. The battalion feeds information to the brigade staff TOC, forcing brigade and battalion staffs to react as the simulated battle unfolds. The simulation is not a battle driver; it is a staff driver that uses the unit's order to produce random but realistic results, which in turn cause a staff to react. Staff tasks form the training objectives, with unit battle tasks used as a scenario to bind the staff actions together. A simulation exercise is less about winning or losing than about training. …
Matters of legal liability that are of concern to institutions of higher education are discussed ... more Matters of legal liability that are of concern to institutions of higher education are discussed in some detail in language for the layman. Among the subjects discussed are: the development of charitable corporations, and immunity prerogatives;the traditional bases of legal liability; liability for the new torts, including violation of constitutional rights, employment and promotion of academic staff, admission, student- and faculty-related liability and administrator and trustee problems, and other university practices involving discrimination; and forms of protection from liability, including immunity, indemnification, insurance, and legal counsel; Illustrations are drawn from recent and historical court cases. A bibliography is included.
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
Huntington posited that democracy is the best form of state governance, but he recognized that of... more Huntington posited that democracy is the best form of state governance, but he recognized that often before a state could become a democracy, there would be a period in which a less-thandemocratic authoritarian government was needed in order to provide the stability in which democracy could prosper. Georgia became an independent state in 1991 and almost immediately entered a period of internal strife and civil war. When the wars ended and stability returned, it was under an authoritarian Eduard Shevardnadze. In 2003, the "Rose Revolution" evicted Shevardnadze from power and introduced Mikheil Saakashvili, who entered with great hopes for increased democracy. Saakashvili's government began by virtually eliminating corruption and promising far-reaching democratic reforms. That government, however, became increasingly authoritarian, and in 2012 it was soundly defeated by the Georgian Dream coalition under billionaire Bedzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili's government has also become increasingly authoritarian, so the aim of this study is to discover if Georgia is still in an authoritarian transition, which Larry Diamond said could last for decades, or if the ruling elites are engaged in State Capture.
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
... The only possible landing site was on the Yazoo River in front of either Chickasaw or Haynes&... more ... The only possible landing site was on the Yazoo River in front of either Chickasaw or Haynes' bluffs. The Campaign On 2 November 1862, Major General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee moved south from Bolivar, Tennessee, to capture northwest Mis-sissippi and ...
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peac... more THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peacetime contingencies effectively. This is an ominous turn, for the RC provides over 70 percent of the US Army's combat support and combat service support. As training dollars shrink and frequent deployments deplete readiness stocks, how will the Army maintain the combat skills of its RC soldiers and units? By using computer-supported simulation exercises, the RC can train effectively and efficiently, but only by adhering to certain basic principles. This article describes computer simulation training and examines several imperatives for enhanced unit training. An Army not at war is training for war, and any training short of combat is simulation.1 Simulation technology has improved dramatically in the past two decades. Before 1980, training exercises used battle-board maps spread across a floor and dice to adjudicate combat action. With computer-supported simulations, the speed and ra...
THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peac... more THE US ARMY RESERVE Component (RC) is in danger of losing its ability to support wartime and peacetime contingencies effectively. This is an ominous turn, for the RC provides over 70 percent of the US Army's combat support and combat service support. As training dollars shrink and frequent deployments deplete readiness stocks, how will the Army maintain the combat skills of its RC soldiers and units? By using computer-supported simulation exercises, the RC can train effectively and efficiently, but only by adhering to certain basic principles. This article describes computer simulation training and examines several imperatives for enhanced unit training. An Army not at war is training for war, and any training short of combat is simulation.1 Simulation technology has improved dramatically in the past two decades. Before 1980, training exercises used battle-board maps spread across a floor and dice to adjudicate combat action. With computer-supported simulations, the speed and random selection of combat results increased, but the realism of the simulated battlefield still depended on the skill of the observer-controller (O/C) who ran the exercise. By the late 1980s, the development of realistic, fast-paced, interactive, graphically supported simulations such as Brigade/Battalion Battle Simulation (BBS) and Corps Battle Simulation (CBS) escalated the pace and realism of exercises. These simulations replicated the stress of the modern battlefield tactical operations center (TOC). Just when it seemed that simulation gaming had reached its pinnacle, software and hardware developers combined to promise a synthetic theater of war in which troops in the field (live), soldiers in combat simulators (virtual) and staffs in TOCs (constructive) are linked to enhance an exercise's span and realism. Although predicting the next advance in simulation technology is impossible, planners can assume that given current and future resource constraints, computersupported simulation training will remain critical for reserve forces and may become the primary vehicle for training RC staffs. RC units train with limited resources. They generally have only 39 days of formal training each year in which to achieve the Active Component (AC) standard of readiness. Training areas are also scarce, often hours away from a unit's home station. Consequently, a computer-supported simulation exercise, transmitted to an RC unit's home station during a weekend drill, becomes the preferred method of unit staff training. Through remote simulation exercises the AC has access to RC training events, and conversely, RC units can train in AC exercises to improve the relevance of RC training. Remote computer-supported simulation exercises are the affordable method of training the RC.2 Computer-Supported Simulation Exercises A typical computer-supported battle staff simulation exercise involves a brigade-level headquarters and three to five battalion-level subordinate units, each in a field TOC. Computer work-stations are shipped to the battalions' home stations and manned by representatives of their companies. These company role players set up a mini-TOC at each workstation and work off posted maps and the workstation monitors' graphic display to carry out battalion orders and fight the battle. The workstation role players transmit battlefield information produced by simulation-fed workstation printers to the battalion staff using organic unit communications. The battalion feeds information to the brigade staff TOC, forcing brigade and battalion staffs to react as the simulated battle unfolds. The simulation is not a battle driver; it is a staff driver that uses the unit's order to produce random but realistic results, which in turn cause a staff to react. Staff tasks form the training objectives, with unit battle tasks used as a scenario to bind the staff actions together. A simulation exercise is less about winning or losing than about training. …
Matters of legal liability that are of concern to institutions of higher education are discussed ... more Matters of legal liability that are of concern to institutions of higher education are discussed in some detail in language for the layman. Among the subjects discussed are: the development of charitable corporations, and immunity prerogatives;the traditional bases of legal liability; liability for the new torts, including violation of constitutional rights, employment and promotion of academic staff, admission, student- and faculty-related liability and administrator and trustee problems, and other university practices involving discrimination; and forms of protection from liability, including immunity, indemnification, insurance, and legal counsel; Illustrations are drawn from recent and historical court cases. A bibliography is included.
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
Huntington posited that democracy is the best form of state governance, but he recognized that of... more Huntington posited that democracy is the best form of state governance, but he recognized that often before a state could become a democracy, there would be a period in which a less-thandemocratic authoritarian government was needed in order to provide the stability in which democracy could prosper. Georgia became an independent state in 1991 and almost immediately entered a period of internal strife and civil war. When the wars ended and stability returned, it was under an authoritarian Eduard Shevardnadze. In 2003, the "Rose Revolution" evicted Shevardnadze from power and introduced Mikheil Saakashvili, who entered with great hopes for increased democracy. Saakashvili's government began by virtually eliminating corruption and promising far-reaching democratic reforms. That government, however, became increasingly authoritarian, and in 2012 it was soundly defeated by the Georgian Dream coalition under billionaire Bedzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili's government has also become increasingly authoritarian, so the aim of this study is to discover if Georgia is still in an authoritarian transition, which Larry Diamond said could last for decades, or if the ruling elites are engaged in State Capture.
Huntington wrote about civil-military relations in newly developing countries, but few have disse... more Huntington wrote about civil-military relations in newly developing countries, but few have dissected the basic concept of what constitutes a civilian and military relationship. What are civil-military relations in a country that has no authorized or state sanctioned military force, where the "military" is essentially civilians in uniform? The country of Georgia declared its independence in 1991, but it had no organized national military force. That vacuum was filled by competing militias led by civilians who had no military training, e.g. a painter and a business clerk. These, and other disparate armed groups, carried out armed activities amounting to a civil war for three years. The Georgian civilian population was deeply affected and developed attitudes toward the military and military service that last until today. This presentation examines the development of civil-military relations in Georgia from its independence and its effect on the progression of Democracy in Georgia and the security of the country and the region.
The Order of the Poor Knights of Christ was founded in 1119 by seven French knights in Jerusalem ... more The Order of the Poor Knights of Christ was founded in 1119 by seven French knights in Jerusalem with the purpose of protecting pilgrims to the holy sites. Taking monastic vows of poverty and chastity, the order quickly became a fighting force feared by all of its opponents. One of its early supporters was Cistercian Saint Bernard of Clairvaux who authored the Rule of the Order as well as a letter to extol the virtues and give guidance to its knights. This presentation answers the question of who was Bernard of Clairvaux and examines the letter written in 1130 by Bernard to the Templar Master, extracts the guidance that remains relevant to today’s members of the Order and proposes a modern version of Bernard’s letter that can be used by modern Templars .
This is an outline conference presentation delivered at the Georgia Foundation for Strategic and ... more This is an outline conference presentation delivered at the Georgia Foundation for Strategic and International Studies in Tbilisi, Georgia on March 28, 2008.
Security of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Region is of interest not only to the states that borde... more Security of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Region is of interest not only to the states that border those bodies of water, but because these seas and the land corridor between then have historically functioned as a route for trade and culture through the centuries, it is also of interest to states in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Failure of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea states to create a common structure to address security challenges in the region will lead to fractionalization of security efforts and permit those agents who challenge that security to continue to operate freely in the shadows. The Black Sea and Caspian Sea states must adopt a common means to address these issues, but there are many challenges to creating a common means, some of which are discussed in this presentation.
This article is not the standard compilation of black letter law and case analysis contained in m... more This article is not the standard compilation of black letter law and case analysis contained in most lawyerly lectures. Instead, it is a critique of current trends in health care reform in the United States and a challenge to all readers to rethink their roles as health care consumers and professionals. I write a little about health standards, law, financing and cost, and a lot about ethics, paradigm shifts and quality of life. Depending upon your cultural background, I may seriously challenge your view of health and your role in health care reform.
Georgia is a European nation and, despite challenges to its economy and autonomy, it moves close... more Georgia is a European nation and, despite challenges to its economy and autonomy, it moves closer each day to deeper integration into the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. While many Georgians favor membership in NATO - a January 2008 nationwide referendum shows that more than 77% of the Georgian people favor joining NATO, it is doubtful that many really appreciate the positive impact that NATO membership can have on Georgia’s future. The government has opened several NATO Information Centers around the country, but for those Georgians who may not visit an information center, as well as for some skeptical Europeans who may be too jaded to appreciate the benefits of NATO membership; this article will explain how NATO membership can influence further positive change in Georgia.
This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to t... more This research project examines Georgia’s path toward democracy from its independence in 1991 to the present time, emphasizing the role of civil-military relations in that journey. The research offers an historical review of the political events that impacted the country’s uneven movement toward democracy and the personalities who steered the country forward. Using Huntington’s concept of an authoritarian transition that is unique to modernizing states, and especially to the former Soviet republics, the research concludes that Georgia remains in its authoritarian transition, but also raises the issue that this transition may have been further derailed by State Capture. This study is important for donor states to understand the historical and cultural traditions that affect the effectiveness of their assistance to Georgia The study concludes with several recommendations to assist Georgia to advance toward becoming a consolidated liberal democracy and the necessity to free its civil-military relations from partisan politics and State Capture.
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