Dr. David Leffler “served as an Associate of the Proteus Management Group at the Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director at CAMS,” that is, the Center for Advanced Military Science. He has “also given presentations about IDT [Invincible Defense Technology] at the Russian Air Force Academy, The Russian Academy of Sciences, & US defense-related institutions.”
There is no indication that this kind of thinking helped create the mess in Afghanistan, but there is no doubt that at the highest levels, there is a similar level of naive miscomprehension in the U.S. military regarding jihadis’ motivating ideology. And no lessons will be learned now, either.
“Time Is Running Out for Afghanistan,” by Arlene Schar and David Leffler, TOLO News, August 14, 2021 (thanks to Loren):
…There is an ideal defense against conflict and terrorism: a proven, state-of-the-art, non-violent alternative that actually prevents adversaries from arising in first place. This alternative gives Afghanistan’s warriors a strategic and profound proactive advantage by preventing conflict, war and terrorism before they occur, for far less the cost of conventional defenses. This highly effective unconventional approach with a proven scientific record for diffusing conflict and violence is called Invincible Defense Technology (IDT), a brain-based technology that incorporates practices of the non-religious Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) to bring about peace.
When large groups of trained practitioners apply the advanced TM techniques together twice a day, a powerful field effect of coherence and peace affects the consciousness of the surrounding population. The bigger the group the bigger the effect. These outcomes of consistent and measurable decreases in war deaths, terrorism, and crime have been substantiated by extensive research published in the following refereed journals: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, International Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Crime and Justice, Journal of Mind and Behavior, Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, Psychological Reports, Psychology Crime and Law, Social Indicators Research, Social Science Perspectives Journal, Society of Neuroscience Abstracts, and Studies in Asian Social Science.
Hundreds of scientific studies conducted at more than 200 independent universities and research institutions and published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals confirm that regular practice of TM produces major increases in calmness, happiness, creativity, energy, and clarity of mind. Over six million people worldwide of all religions, cultures and ages have learned TM and experienced these benefits….
Violence has historically been the response to national differences, despite its costs both in financial and human terms. What Afghanistan needs now is for its leaders to recognize that there is a more effective proven way to resolve differences. TM is that scientifically-verified approach, and now is the time for the leaders to utilize this new brain-based technology to dissolve high tensions and create perpetual unity, stability and peace.
livingengine says
Does anyone remember Eric Allen Bell?
Wellington says
I believe he is dead but he realized, courageously so, before the end of his life how inimical to Western values Islam surely is.
livingengine says
“courageously so”?
Oh, Wellington, you have so much to learn.
Come appreciate the complete arc, and dismantling of EAB’s “courage” – https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,112373,page=7
Wellington says
Well, so much again for Wikipedia, gravenimage, which I consulted (my fault) and it stated that Bell died in June of 2019.
Wellington says
livingengine: Stating something about someone that is not true is not a crime but it is subject to a civil case of defamation. So, what exactly do I have to learn, livingengine?
gravenimage says
Wellington, Wikipedia doesn’t say that now:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Allen_Bell
But given the ugly fact that Robert Spencer was reported as having passed away on that platform as an ugly form of political trolling for long periods, this does not surprise. Not just untrustworthy, but often *deliberately* innacurate.
Wellington says
Gravenimage: I just went to the link you provided and Wikipedia states Bell died 06/08/2019.
gravenimage says
Oh–sorry, Wellington, I missed that. That the entry says “Eric Allen Bell is…” instead of “was” is very odd–and it doesn’t mention that he has died until almost the end of the entry.
Generally, this is the standard Wikipedia format for subjects who have passed on:
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain…
gravenimage says
Bell is still very much with us, Wellington. Bell has been savvy on some aspects of recognizing the Jihad threat, but over all has proven far less a defender of freedom than might have been the case.
gravenimage says
I stand corrected. Bell died in 2019.
Rob Porter says
Read this article and you realize how many really stupid Americans afflict the scene. These imbeciles have absolutely no understanding of Islam, the Qur’an, Islam’s violent history, function on wishful thinking and portray the nonsense as a science.
bill says
I am sure TM is forbidden under Islamic Sharia law
gravenimage says
Yes.
Wellington says
Where to start?
We are indeed now being led and guided by buffoons. This guy comes to mind, so does Mark Milley, so do the puppet masters directing a shell of a person, one Joe Biden, what to do and say.
We’re in huge trouble. This is a given.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“We’re in huge trouble. This is a given.”
Yes we are. The only question is how “huge”.
I wake up every morning thinking for a brief moment that what is currently going on is just a nightmare – and it’s really Christmas morning 2019.
Then I slowly wake up, with the help of coffee and a cheese Danish, and start to read the incredibly depressing news feeds – from reliable sources.
And then I realize that it’s not a nightmare…
Rob Porter says
I read this stuff from this Leffler clown and just marvel. Why the dickens these imbeciles never read the Qur’an and study Islam’s history, beats me.
`Kepha says
It’s simple, ROb: Imbeciles do what imbeciles do, which is ignore things.
@Wellington: Your’e wrong about buffoons running things. The fact of the matter is that we are being led by persons whom the book of Proverbs identifies as “the fool”. Such a fool is not a humorous or amusing entertainer brought in to give a ruler comic relief after a hard day’s work, but a person who deliberately ignores good counsel, neglects his calling, and is self-destructively perverse in all of his ways.
Terry Gain says
I remember the Hare Krishna lunatics in the 1960s. I am completely shocked at what has occurred over the last 60 years. But I read deBono in the 1980’s and I say we take this guy up on his delusions. Let’s send him to Afghanistan and see how he makes our. As they say, I suggest that he get his affairs in order before he goes.
gravenimage says
I don’t think this fool would last long there…
owensgate says
I don’t remember ever reading an article so full of bovine scat. Thoroughly modern Gen. Milley couldn’t get any fight out of his military, unless they use the correct pronouns. No wonder he wants to give up. So tiring of hearing ignorant pundits bloviating about “the 20 Year War”, and why it’s past time to “End it”. Do they understand we’ve been “at war” with NK since an armistice was agreed to in July, 1953? And how many troops do we have there now? My calculations say this has been a “Longer” war, by far. Not to mention the troops stationed in Europe after WWII. They’re still there, huh? Hanging on to Bagram with a few thousand troops would (will) be proven a lot cheaper than what we’ve just bought; this one will come back to bite us in the arse, bigly. Does anyone note that the clothing worn by these Taliban in the “Presidential Palace” look clean and pressed? Almost like they just came from a Kabul Five Star Hotel, and not from fighting their way in. Curious. Almost like it was planned (and approved). Meanwhile, Biden has taken the rest of the World by the hand, and crossed the Rubicon. The balloon has gone up, NK, China and Iran now understand the hour is NOW, the window might close soon, and it’s now or never for taking Taiwan, South Korea, and attacking Israel. May we live in interesting times indeed!
GFF says
When I took to the throne at university some wit had written above the toilet roll dispenser,
“sociology degree, please take one”,
I must admit to a guffaw while seated. I think I’ve just had the same. Thanks JW for the memory.
‘Better to laugh than cry’.
Infidel says
Is he in any way connected to the Natural Law Party? I believe that they had solutions of that type – having yogic fliers to solve most problems
Eva says
The complete and total idiocy of these people is beyond belief.
Crusades Were Right says
A bit too “hippie-ish” for my liking!
“Like, man, cutting my neck with your knife is, like, giving me bad vibes! Can’t we all just, like, meditate, and get along?”
“Alahu akbar!”
Yikes!
Kepha says
People who either were Hippies or influenced by that movement of the Silly ‘Sixties and Sillier ‘Seventies are now running things.
gravenimage says
Center for Advanced Military Science chief, former US Army War College associate: with meditation, we can end jihad
…………………………
Dr. David Leffler is a moron–that he is considered a military thinker would be hilarious if it were not so dangerous. Firstly, the idea that meditating ends all aggression is ridiculous–it may lessen it, but only in people who are actually seeking such a thing–Jihadists certainly are not.
Then, Yoga and Transendental Meditation and Yoga are rejected by Islam as being part of Hinduism. Here’s AskImam, the most widely read site in English on the subject:
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/39966
http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/28185
Note that the witless David Leffler doesn’t ask why the Taliban would be interested in ending Jihad to begin with–after all, it’s worked for these pious Muslims so far.
Here’s the cluless doctor, prescribing the same for Nigeria:
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2021/04/10/preventing-adversaries-from-arising-in-nigeria-by-arlene-j-schar-and-dr-david-leffler/
He doesn’t say why Boko Haram would want to do this, either.
On his Twitter account, he also recommends this for Jihad in Mozambique and Pakistan:
https://twitter.com/drdavidleffler?lang=en
Leffler obviously understands *nothing* about Jihad. A wanker.
Jon Sobieski says
IDT, CRT, Ba -lon- ey. We are fractured, shattered, broken bones in the road. Somehow the reality will escape us. I get no joy watching the US multiculturalism pox lay its blows on the body. Like staggering England, the US opens itself to more blows. Why else would we invite 50,000 Afghans here on our dime. Polygamy? no problem. Low IQs, illiterate women, no problem. believe islam will conquer America? No problem.
Kepha says
Not long ago, I taught a girl from Afghanistan. In her upper teens, she was working hard on learning English–which is the first language in which she ever learned to read and write.
BTeboe says
This is exactly why we are the mess we are in now. You don’t mediate with Islam. Maybe this guy who is supposed to be coming up with policy actually learn about what and who he is attempting to mediate with.
Roshan says
The Taliban were Buddhist converts.How are they going to take up meditation, it is buddhism which they converted from?Meditation is haram in Islam.Surely some people are so ignorant of Islam.
Aussie Infidel says
As a former practitioner of meditation for many decades, I have some advice for Dr Leffler. While it is true that TM – or rather properly devised and relevant meditation (or self hypnosis) – can increase a person’s calmness, happiness, introspection and clarity of mind, in no way is it a substitute for real-world knowledge of a problem to be solved.
Anyone who thinks that solutions to a problem will magically come to mind just by meditating about it, without taking the time to study all its nuances, is being delusional and extremely ‘woke’. How would solutions to defeat the Islamic jihad be forthcoming to anyone who had never read the Quran and knew little about Islamic ideology? How does Dr leffler propose to change a jihadi’s mindset to disavow the use of “conflict, war and terrorism”, when that person has been deeply indoctrinated – in most cases from childhood – with the ‘holy duty’ to perform those very acts of aggression? Does Leffler understand the conditions prescribed in the Quran for peace with Muslims? Or does he naively imagine that this “brain-based technology” will overcome the indoctrination by the imams and mullahs – and the rewards of Paradise promised by Allah?
Furthermore, Leffler claims, “When large groups of trained practitioners apply the advanced TM techniques together twice a day, a powerful field effect of coherence and peace affects the consciousness of the surrounding population. The bigger the group the bigger the effect”. WHAT RUBBISH! This is the greatest load of unscientific crap I’ve ever read. What “field effect” is he talking about? Is it gravitational? Or electromagnetic? How is it measured? I would venture to suggest that like the Emperor’s New Clothes, it exists only in the mind of the beholder!
The real problem is that few if any of our politicians – and probably our military leaders too – have read the Islamic scriptures, and understand precious little about the enemy they face – their ideology, tactics, or strengths and weaknesses. If this woke ideology is guiding our military efforts to prevent jihadi terrorism, it’s no wonder they have been such monumental failures.
Our leaders should give much more weight to ‘KNOWING THEIR ENEMY’, and reserve meditation for the aftermath of conflict to alleviate PTSD.
gravenimage says
+1
James Lincoln says
So, Dr. David Leffler, you think that Transcendental Meditation ® TM® would do the trick.
Would you also recommend augmenting that with one or more of the following – for an enhance effect:
1. Valium.
2. THC.
3. Quaaludes.
4. Opiates.
5. Alcohol.
6. Etc.
OLD GUY says
Ok meditation will stop our enemies from harming us and others. How does Leffler or is it the Left get the in this case islamic enemy to sit down and meditate and then lay down their weapons and hug everyone except women thats against sharia. Not happening ever!
rooare says
That this guy and people like him get a serious platform is mind boggling. His TM certainly hasn’t given him ‘clarity of mind’ in fact it’s produced the opposite. For in spite of all evidence to the contrary he and other TM practitioners believe they’re actually effecting world peace! Reminds me of the MSM reporters standing in front of burning buildings making the absurd statement of ‘mostly peaceful protests’. These people would do well to heed Blaise Pascal when he stated, “Men never do evil so thoroughly a joyfully as when they do it for religious conviction”.
sidney penny says
All the research about TM and the practice is true but does it override jihadis’ motivating ideology.
The Law of Abrogation In Islam
Abrogation in the Qur’an refers to the phenomenon of a later verse changing or altering a ruling established by a verse revealed earlier, either in whole or in part.
The violent later replaces the peaceful earlier.
The theology of Islam replaces any benefit of IDT [Invincible Defense Technology]
Plus there are no large groups of trained practitioners in Afganistan applying the advanced TM techniques twice a day, to create a powerful field effect of coherence and peace that affects the consciousness of the surrounding population.
Kepha says
People who either were Hippies or influenced by that movement of the Silly ‘Sixties and Sillier ‘Seventies are now running things.