A Failure in Generalship: Part I

Just found this article in the Armed Forces Journal.  Haven’t finished reading it yet, but stay tuned for my reaction.  This may stir up a hornet’s nest.  Came across this first through Drudge:

 A failure in generalship 

By Lt. Col. Paul Yingling

“You officers amuse yourselves with God knows what buffooneries and never dream in the least of serious service. This is a source of stupidity which would become most dangerous in case of a serious conflict.”
- Frederick the Great

For the second time in a generation, the United States faces the prospect of defeat at the hands of an insurgency. In April 1975, the U.S. fled the Republic of Vietnam, abandoning our allies to their fate at the hands of North Vietnamese communists. In 2007, Iraq’s grave and deteriorating condition offers diminishing hope for an American victory and portends risk of an even wider and more destructive regional war.

These debacles are not attributable to individual failures, but rather to a crisis in an entire institution: America’s general officer corps. America’s generals have failed to prepare our armed forces for war and advise civilian authorities on the application of force to achieve the aims of policy. The argument that follows consists of three elements. First, generals have a responsibility to society to provide policymakers with a correct estimate of strategic probabilities. Second, America’s generals in Vietnam and Iraq failed to perform this responsibility. Third, remedying the crisis in American generalship requires the intervention of Congress.

The Responsibilities of Generalship

Aiding and Abetting the Enemy.

Don’t we ever learn?  Here’s the lessons learned, don’t mobilize our forces to stay in place over 6 months, that way they don’t have time to get complacent or bored and start doing stoopid things like giving away free cell phone minutes to suspected insurgents or spending free time with female relatives of incarcerated personnel.

Even working with the military for the past 18 years, with several tours in Iraq, it still amazes me that such feats of ignorance and criminality can happen.

U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Who Commanded Baghdad Detention Center Charged With ‘Aiding the Enemy’

Thursday, April 26, 2007

BAGHDAD —  A senior U.S. officer has been charged with nine offenses, including aiding the enemy and fraternizing with the daughter of a detainee while he commanded a military police detachment at the American detention facility where Saddam Hussein had been held, the military said Thursday.Army Lt. Col. William H. Steele was the commander of the 451st Military Police Detachment at Camp Cropper on the western outskirts of Baghdad when he was accused of giving “aid to the enemy” by providing an unmonitored cell phone to detainees.

But some of the charges — which spanned from October 2005 and February — also stemmed from his most recent position in a provincial transition team headquartered at Camp Victory, the main U.S. military base near the detention center, military spokesman Lt. Col. James Hutton said.

Steele, who was detained in March, was being held in Kuwait pending an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing, military officials said.

The other charges included unauthorized possession of classified information, fraternizing with the daughter of a detainee, maintaining an inappropriate relationship with an interpreter, storing classified information in his quarters and possessing pornographic videos, the military said.

I’m going to Disneyland.

For the first time since December, I’ve got some time off.  I’ve flown home to California to spend two weeks with the family.  Tomorrow we’re making our annual trip to the Mouse Kingdom, you know, the Happiest Place on Earth.  Between my wife and I, we’ve probably been to D-land 60 to 70 times in our lifetimes.  And it never grows old.

So, I’ll be busy the next few weeks having nothing to do, so I probably won’t interrupt my down time with too many blogs.  I’ll check back every so often just for fun.

Stop the presses, Global Warming will help us all.

Fresh from the wire, Reuters is reporting that Global Warming will induce increased wind shear, thereby tearing apart potential hurricanes during their formation.  The United States stands to save billions of federal emergency money by not having to move folks out of their waterlogged homes in New Orleans.  This money saved can then go back to pay those minimum wage hikes the Dems have been bleating about. 

Call the Dems, notify the Official Order of the Sanctimonious Climatologists, phone the Meteorology Ministers and tell them to increase global warming!  It’ll save us big bucks!!

By Jim Loney

MIAMI (Reuters) - Global warming could increase a climate phenomenon known as wind shear that inhibits Atlantic hurricanes, a potentially positive result of climate change, according to new research released on Tuesday.

Do you Ducati?

Added a blog link recently to a buddy’s site.  Seems he’s a die-hard Ducati fan and has a small cycle parts business on the side.  He’s also a fellow part time instructor with me, so during our last outing in the Pine Bluff region of Carolina, we talked a little about web pages, blogs and other geeky stuff. I have to admit, the machines he’s pictured on his site are exquisite and probably way beyond my means financially, plus I have no concept of what it means to ride a bike.  But, if you do Ducati, pay his blog a visit or try Desmotimes.

The last time I rode a two wheeled motorized bicycle I was 12 or 13 on one of those lawn mower engine powered monstrosity with a centrifigal brake and no shocks.  I was scared sh*tless.

15 April 2007 - Back from the Field

Blacksburg, VA Part II

Okay, the shrill call for gun control no doubt is regaining speed right about now.  Before we start drawing conclusions on how the U.S. sux compared to other nations in regards to gun control, get the statistics from a reputable source.  That means no blogged opinions or OpEd or Wikipedia.  Everyone knows that Wiki isn’t acceptable in legitimate research circles due to their open editing practises and lack of peer review.  I start my research at the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) in 2005, 477,040 victims of violent crimes stated that they faced an offender with a firearm.

Incidents involving a firearm represented 9% of the 4.7 million violent crimes of rape and sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault in 2005.

The FBI’s Crime in the United States estimated that 66% of the 16,137 murders in 2004 were committed with firearms.

Blacksburg, VA

Please pause a moment and think of others for a change…

Thank you Writer Chick Talks for saying it so well…

Speechless…

Lebanese Male Belly Dancers?

Bet you haven’t seen this in any main stream American media broadcast…  Below is a short transript about Lebanese Belly Dancers (who happen to be men).  Very interesting video in terms of cultural attitudes.  A prominent female belly dancer laments the “unnaturalness” of having a guy dance.  And I wonder, it seems that Islamic societies are marginalizing women to an ever increasing degree, so will men replace women to the point where women will disappear from the public eye?

Lebanese Male Belly Dancers Incur the Wrath of Fellow Female Dancers

Following are excerpts from a television show about male belly dancers, which aired on New TV on February 12, 2007: Reporter: A natural, common, beautiful site. How great! Shake it like a goose! Belly dancer - shake your silky hips. But what would you say if things were turned upside down? Alaa’ is a man in the full sense of the word, but he dances better than the female belly dancers. This is what he says, and this is what others say about him. On top of that, he teaches belly dancing. Surely there were no men like Alaa; in 1000 BCE, when belly dancing began in the temples as a religious ritual, practiced only by women. Today, more than 2,000 years after Christ, male belly dancers were born from the womb of female dancers, and they can teach girls a thing or two about dancing. Alaa’ is not scantily clad, but since he is a guy, he attracts more attention than many female dancers who wear nothing. The difference between the Arabic word fann [art] and the English word “fun” is like the difference between a dancing man and a dancing woman. one thing is for sure - whoever dances does so by the sweat of his brow. Even though “dance” is a male term in the Arabic language, it is associated with the femininity of women, from dancers and slave girls to gypsies and actresses. In our Eastern society, the shaking of the hips befits women, but who says that other creatures do not dance? The slaughtered bird dances in pain, and the dance of the snake is enjoyed by people. To conclude, we are with Alaa’, in a dance familiar to men.

California’s 45th Congressional District:

Being a misplaced Californiano, I keep track of my State Congress. Just some interesting facts to keep tabs on our decision makers.  Yes, I hate being a Conservative in a liberal state, but I try to keep them on track.  Need some help, anyone else around to assist me?

April 16, 2007 In this MegaVote for California’s 45th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes - Senate: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 Senate: HOPE Act Upcoming Congressional Bills - Senate: Intelligence Authorization Act, FY2007 Senate: Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 House: RECOVER Act House: Water Resources Development Act of 2007 House: Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act

Recent Senate Votes

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (63-34, 3 Not Voting) The Senate voted to reverse President Bush’s 2001 decision prohibiting government funds from being spent to create new lines of embryonic stem cells. Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES……send e-mail or see bio HOPE Act - Vote Passed (70-28, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed this bill that would increase funding for adult stem cell research. Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Barbara Boxer voted NO……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Intelligence Authorization Act, FY2007 - S.372 The Senate is expected to complete action early in the week on this bill authorizing intelligence-related expenditures for the current fiscal year. Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 - S.3 Following completion of the intelligence bill, the Senate is scheduled to begin work on this bill that would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices. RECOVER Act - H.R.1361 This bill would allow approved lenders to originate and administer Small Business Administration disaster loans. Water Resources Development Act of 2007 - H.R.1495 This $14 billion bill would provide funds for a variety of Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects. Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act - H.R.363 This House bill authorizes appropriations for science and engineering research and education.

Can someone just deport Michael Moore already?

Fahrenheit 9/11 spin-meister Michael Moore has shown his ass again.  Seems the meretricious film maker is carting off first responders to the September 11th WTC disaster to Cuba to partake of their socialized health care - in an effort to prove that our own system is somehow worse.

J. Fisher from NY Post April 15, 2007 — Filmmaker Michael Moore’s production company took ailing Ground Zero responders to Cuba in a stunt aimed at showing that the U.S. health-care system is inferior to Fidel Castro’s socialized medicine, according to several sources with knowledge of the trip.

The trip was to be filmed as part of the controversial director’s latest documentary, “Sicko,” an attack on American drug companies and HMOs that Moore hopes to debut at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

But, you have to consider, both Fidel (no Stroh’s allowed) and the doctors at that facility would undoubtedly put on their Sunday best to treat these poor souls.  As the article details, it seems that our patients are “utterly” happy and “utterly” fooled into thinking that any type of socialized medicine program would ever provide personal, friendly and courteous service.

Remember the recent scandal at Walter Reed?  Well, guys, military medical is pretty much socialized medical.  Take it from me, I’ve been using military and VA medical for the past 18 years.

I’m sure they were treated as celebrities as a means to make our own nation’s medical facilities look bad.  It was all a horrible media stunt, typical of Moore and anyone else coming out of the Hollyweird enclave.

“From what I heard through the grapevine, those people that went are utterly happy,” said John Feal, who runs the Fealgood Foundation to help raise money for responders and was approached by Moore to find responders willing to take the trip.

“They got the Elvis treatment.”

Well, duh!  By the way, the name Fealgood is just too ironic, in more ways than one!  We have got to do something about odd and ugly fat men with cameras and those odd, but “beautiful” people in front of them.  America needs to send a message to them, “Okay, entertain us, but don’t try to do our thinking for us!”  I mean really, do we think that anyone who makes a living pretending to be someone else should be taken seriously?

Officially Smarter

Never did get the chance to share an important event prior to leaving for a 7 day jaunt in the woods.  Just this last week, I officially handed in my final paper for my Master’s  degree.  Definately been a challenging journey for the last two years, burning the midnight oil on papers and research, foregoing dinners out and spending entire weekends drafting APA standardized projects.

But, I’m official now, the grades have been posted. The official alphabet soup to put on my business card can include MBA - TM.  What’s TM, you ask?  The degree is a concentration on technology management; understanding the nature of business technologies in global strategies, technology transfer concepts, and technology project management.

From here, I’m interested in throwing some resumes out there to see what bites.  Looking to hook the big fish and boost up the annual income.  I’ve heard, but haven’t confirmed that having the next level of education can add quite a bit to an annual salary.

But, the truly troubling aspect, is what to do with myself with all this extra time now.  I guess I can waste it on blogging.

Tents and Tornados Don’t Mix

We’ve come back in from the field a day early.  With this weather front moving through, it was determined that our extreme weather plan was lacking and with the prospect of facing tornados in tents, we decided to pack it in a day early.  I’ll be heading back to the office today though, to close out the training and account for all our sensative items.  You know how it gets, with over 60 students, someone is bound to lose something.

At least we accounted for weapons last night, couldn’t go to bed without being sure someone didn’t accidently throw their M-4 into a duffle bag.

I’ve lost track of the news; have no idea what crap has been going on in the U.S. or the rest of the world.  And you know what?  I really don’t mind.  It boggles the mind and causes internal unrest to watch too much media, never knowing if what they say is true or pure drivel.  And spending my day trying to figure it all out gets exhausting.

Anyway, it was great to sleep in a bed last night.  Such small pleasures that the average man takes for granted.

Carolina on My Mind

Postings this week will be slim as I fulfill another obligation to the Commander-in-Chief.  I’ll be spending the next 7 days in the sandhills of North Carolina preparing a select group of Soldiers to develop their negotiating and adaptive leading skills in Stablization and Reconstruction operations.

Enjoy some of my archived posts until I get back online.

Nancy Pelosi the next Secretary of State?

Seems Nancy is shooting for Condoleeza’s job.  One can only surmise from Ms. Pelosi’s travels to Syria.  She’s obviously not doing her job as Speaker of the House, which is described on the Speaker of the House website as:

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected by his or her fellow Members to preside over the House.  The Speaker typically maintains three roles, as the Representative for his or her district, as a leader of his or her party, and as the leader of the House as a whole.  The party that holds a majority of the seats in the House will generally elect a Representative of their own party to serve as Speaker.

As specified in the rules and customs of the House, responsibilities of the Speaker include:

• Calling the House to order.
• Administering the oath of office to House Members.
• Presiding over debate, recognizing Members to speak on the floor, and preserving order; or delegating that power to another Member of Congress.
• Setting the legislative agenda.
• Leading the appointment process for the chairs of the various committees and subcommittees in the House, including conference committees which negotiate final versions of legislation.

The Speaker is also second in the line of succession to the presidency after the Vice President under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

 If you want the exact description of the responsibilities of the Speaker, click here.

Can Pelosi be Prosecuted?

H/T to Hot Air.

Seems there is an law regarding travel to foreign countries to do what Pelosi did. Its called “Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority: The Logan Act“. Interesting reading but probably of little consequence.  And as the blog states, strictly an exercise in intellectualism.  I found the information listed below at the Federation of American Scientists. Enjoy.

The Logan Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953, states: Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States,  directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

The Logan Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. There appear to have been no prosecutions under the Act in its more than 200 year history.