Category Archives: Politics
Occupy D.C.’s Tent of Dreams
The big news today in the DC Metro area was not from Capitol Hill or the White House. Rather it came from McPherson Square. After months and months, the Park Service Police ordered the protest movement out…. well sort of. … Continue reading
A nip here, a snip there, then some whole cloth changes: Defense Cuts
In case you live under a rock Obama: With Coming Cuts to Defense, New Military Will Be Leaner, Still Superior President Obama offered a new Pentagon strategy that cuts billions of dollars for defense over the next decade and will … Continue reading
Filed under Politics
Reservist Endorsing Paul: At least he didn’t go Forrest Gump!
With all the coverage from Iowa, you probably know about this one: Army Reservist in Hot Water An Afghanistan war veteran is in trouble for giving a political speech while in uniform at a caucus night rally with Ron Paul … Continue reading
Filed under ARMY TRAINING, Politics
Muammar Qaddafi is Dead
So, Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi (however you care to spell it!) is dead. Early reports are that he was seized while trying to flee Sirte, and summarily executed. Not an uncommon occurrence for dictators. Other reports say he died of … Continue reading
Saturday morning random thoughts
Roamy here, holding the fort until XBrad gets some internet access. Just thinking out loud this morning over a second cup of coffee. 1. I hope to have some homecoming pics of my nephew to post here soon. 2. I’m … Continue reading
General McPherson is Occupied
Craig here. Working in DC is.. like working anywhere else I guess. It is work. Among several perks while going to and from work I get to pass statues like this one: The figure is Major General James B. McPherson. … Continue reading
Protesting the Air and Space Museum?
Craig here. From the Washington Post: The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on the Mall was abruptly closed Saturday afternoon after a “large group of protesters” tried to push past security guards and enter the museum, a spokeswoman said. … Continue reading
Anwar Al-Alwaki remains in stable condition
The deliberate targeting of an American citizen for military action is, to my knowledge, unprecedented. The President, in the course of authorizing direct action against specified members of Al Qaeda, included Al-Alwaki as a valid target. And just today, we … Continue reading
LAARA: Beechcraft vs. Embraer
Early in the US intervention in Vietnam, the services began to realize that the supersonic fighters and strike aircraft developed in the 50s were not well suited to providing close air support in a counter insurgency environment. Jets flew too … Continue reading
Filed under Afghanistan, Around the web, planes, Politics
Not Just Stupid, But Aggressively Stupid
I’ve been reading the Wall Street Journal for 30 years, and this may well be the dumbest single opinion piece I’ve ever read there: We should be aghast that Boeing is sending a big fat market signal that it wants … Continue reading
Filed under Politics
Is NATO Dead?
If not, should it be? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization may not be dead, but it sure isn’t in the best of health. Currently, NATO is engaged in operations in Afghanistan and Libya. And SecDef Gates, on his way out … Continue reading
Should Civilians Be Tried By Court Martial?
As a rule of thumb, I think the military is overlawyerd. Not that there isn’t an important place for them, but I think there is a slight tendency for some folks to think that everything in the world can be … Continue reading
Filed under army, ARMY TRAINING, Politics
Uniformly Stupid? Part 2
See Part 1 here. I’m on the road, so I’ll be doing some “best of” posts. Right now, this is the most searched for post. While most people in the Army spend just about all their time in a working … Continue reading
Filed under 120mm, Afghanistan, anthropology, armor, army, ARMY TRAINING, Around the web, ducks, gaza, Georgia, girls, guns, history, infantry, Iran, iraq, islam, israel, Load Heat, marines, navy, obama, ossettia, Personal, planes, Politics, recruiting, SIR!, space, stolen valor, stupid, Uncategorized, war
The False Allure of the Draft
Universal Military Service would be a disaster for the Army. As long as I’ve been reading blogs, I’ve seen commenters arguing that the nation should bring back the draft. For several reasons, this would not be advisable. The electoral political … Continue reading
Filed under ARMY TRAINING, Politics
Libya, The President, The Congress, and War
We’ve been conducting military operations against the regime in Libya for over a week now, and still the President has not sought the approval of Congress for this action. Some folks say this is an impeachable offense. Others say it … Continue reading
Filed under army, ARMY TRAINING, Politics
The Defense Budget continued, Navy Edition.
Earlier, we looked at places where the Army could shave some program dollars out of its pie. Maybe I’m biased, but I think with FCS dead, the Army is in the best shape procurement wise. That is, I don’t see … Continue reading
My blood pressure just spiked
There’s stupid, then there’s Assistant Professor grade stupid: Amy Hagopian, assistant professor with the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health concludes military recruiters are a “threat to the health of adolescents.” Hagopian says, “A review of the medical literature … Continue reading
Filed under army, Politics, recruiting, stupid
SOA protestors arrested again
Roamy here. When I was visiting college friends years ago, there was a group on campus that planned to protest outside Fort Benning because “they teach torture at the School of the Americas!” My first thought is that there’s nothing … Continue reading
Filed under army, ARMY TRAINING, Politics, stupid
An interesting take on procurement blues
We’re gonna be hammering on what a mess procurement is for a while. Here’s an interesting look at the F-35 program that isn’t nearly as pessimistic as Eric L. Palmer’s usual take on the subject. Here’s a taste of Prof. … Continue reading
A Sad Anniversary
It was one year ago today that 13 American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their nation. American soldiers enlist knowing they will almost certainly be sent to a theater of war. Many know beyond a shadow … Continue reading
Politics and markets
Geoff and I are long-time blog buddies. He’s got a great post up at Ace’s place about how President Obama doesn’t quite seem to get the whole “business” thingy. The President finally realizes that he can’t make it without support … Continue reading
More on the Defense Budget
I’m a little under the weather, and haven’t gotten around to a follow up on this post. Fortuitously, The Daily Mail has an article that addresses that very topic. But Chief of Staff General George Casey told the annual Association … Continue reading
Filed under army, ARMY TRAINING, ducks, Politics
The Defense Budget
We are obviously in recessionary times, and the federal budget is at unsustainable levels. The real backbreakers are Social Security and Medicare, but plainly, every department is going to be staring budget cuts in the face. The Department of Defense … Continue reading
Hope in Afghanistan?
The Washington Times has an article out that says some folks in the military are starting to see progress from the troop surge. “What is happening is, the Taliban’s freedom of movement,” he said. “We are literally taking away from them … Continue reading
Filed under Afghanistan, army, ARMY TRAINING, guns, infantry, iraq, Politics, stupid, war
Set up for failure?
Via NepLex, the Washington Post has an editorial that says that Obama’s minimal addition of troops to the surge in Afghanistan may not have been so much a strategy of minimalism, but a check-the-box exercise intended to generate an excuse … Continue reading
xbradtc
roamingfirehydrant
Craig Swain
dgharvey
