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This thread is emblematic of there literally being two completely different understandings of reality out there in contemporary American society.

The same highside analysis that predicted Afghanistan wouldn’t fall in 24 hours? You can plan whatever you want, if leader ship is paralyzed with indecision you still lose.

You are an idiot. Like, legitimately fucking stupid. As, I'm assuming, an officer, how can you be so blind?

Did you not see the post 4 above yours where the current president said it was a disgrace because it was aimed at keeping people from color from coming to the US? But since you’re acting like there wasn’t outrage from the left, here you go: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/civil-rights-groups-condemn-trump-s-travel-ban-expansion-six-n1142231 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/opinion/trump-travel-ban-nigeria.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/house/480991-pelosi-trumps-expanded-travel-ban-is-outrageous-un-american-and-threatens-rule%3famp

I hadn’t seen or followed the Pelosi thing. Although it was in January before we were in pandemic mode, I’ll say I stand corrected. I just never felt like people were mad about travel bans once we agreed Covid was a thing. Whoa buddy, calm your tits. But overreaction is a specialty on this forum.

95% and 0%, respectively.

So nobody cares that Biden is limiting flights from South Africa? It's only racist/xenophobic when Trump does it, right? https://thehill.com/policy/international/africa/583204-us-to-restrict-travel-from-south-africa-and-seven-other-countries

The Chinese won’t invade Taiwan. The idea is to create just enough uncertainty about a U.S./Aussie/Japanese response to deter China. It’s working. Add to that the near certain threat of sanctions from the entire western world, and the fact that the Taiwanese are capable of putting a serious dent into any Chinese invasion force and the cost is simply too steep for Xi. Additionally, I don’t think the Chinese possess the organizational skills or actual operational capabilities to pull it off. Their existing infrastructure operates highly inefficiently in practice. I realize mass has a quality all its own, but they’re going to get their heads kicked in for a while before they eventually succeed. That will lead to further domestic/economic pressure that Xi doesn’t want or need at the moment. A Taiwan invasion carries with it a very real chance that the people of China, along with the CCP will lose faith in Xi’s leadership. The last thing he wants is anything that might threaten his grip on power.

Yeah. I will say it is and was very hard to remain unbiased in news sourcing since the Trump presidency for both sides (maybe it actually began around Obama?). I’m wrong in this case, for sure. COVID, ironically, has been the biggest eye opener of people being brainwashed for me. I think I’m doing better now.

Great bait, man! Adds nothing to the conversation. And the joke about the “high side” was apparently entirely lost on you. Let’s keep this forum unclass because, well, it has to be. And with that, I’d like to point you to the wargaming scenarios that resulted in the idea of “NGAD” that showed that we get crushed without a fundamental rearchitecting of AirPower in 5-10 years. I am 100% certain Lockheed/Boeing, the pentagon, and our entrenched leadership will fail to deliver the actual change we need to win overwhelmingly. And I am certain that the American people won’t go fight a war of attrition against China a la WWII. It’s all fun and games until every single fourth Gen fighter is shot down without firing a shot. https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/04/12/a-us-air-force-war-game-shows-what-the-service-needs-to-hold-off-or-win-against-china-in-2030/

Your last two sentences capture the issue at heart I think. Leaders should not equate a lack of desire to command with something less than selfless service. After all, as you note, there are plenty of non-command jobs to fill. Some of these jobs demand a significant amount of sacrifice and are just as thankless as command (see ClearedHot's description of Pentagon assignments). It's not an easy problem of trying to balance AF needs with individual desires, but inconsistent messaging does not help solve it.

New CBT requirement prior to deployment.

Oh don’t forget speaker of the house. questions?

Ok. Easy. didn’t even have to look hard.

When Afghanistan fell in such a shameful fashion, it became obvious our nation wouldn’t do anything about Taiwan or Ukraine either.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/13120-2

Putin won’t invade, but he will be “Forced to respond to actions against ethnic Russians.” It’ll be an extremely thin veneer of bullshit to give the press at home what they need to cover his butt. Chance that we will do something? We can’t ignore it but odds are the “something” will be sanctions, a sternly worded statement and further approval of Nord Stream 2. We’ve provided a bunch of Javelins, so hopefully they get put to good use before they’re overrun.

It’s for those in the MAF who either didn’t get what they wanted out of UPT to go to their first assignment allowing them to “right a wrong” or by wanting to get promoted into leadership and not by flying skill. This is done by: 1. Not be a good pilot. 2. Become an exec. 3. Fly less as a lackluster pilot. 4. Solely upgrade because they’re the Sq/CC’s “HPO.” 5. Cross flow into another MAF aircraft where they won’t fly much because now they’re usually an ADO and solely upgrade for their career progression, not their skill. Here’s an example of a douchebag Phoenix program product. https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/379th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing/Biographies/Article/2274232/colonel-jeremy-e-williams/ Terrible program that promotes terrible aviators into leadership positions.

The left only cares that they have someone in office who will champion their progressive causes…calling Trump a racist was just to motivate their left wing base and attempt to have some in the middle feel guilty for originally supporting Trump. If not for double standards, the left wouldn’t have any standards at all.

GO-hate is my favorite kinda WIC-hate. The level of self-own in AFSOC is epic. Chuck

Somewhat true when considering moving to other AF platforms, at least in the last few years. We have had the occasional pilot go to a "special" flying assignment but that was a good career move. I can't think of too many in the past few years that have gone to other flying assignments without intending to return. One thing to consider about the U-2: if you decide to do it and get accepted, you better be sure you want to be there. No one forced you to go... and you won't get much sympathy if you get there and decide you don't like it. It's a self-inflicted wound. We offer you a lot of chances to take a hard look at the good, the bad, and the ugly about U-2 Life. So get leave, buy an airline ticket, and go spend a couple of days at Beale to check it out before you apply. p.s. Keep in mind, the U-2 Program is overmanned. Obviously. As evidenced by the fact that some genius at AFPC decided they didn't qualify for a pilot bonus. So don't come to the U-2 "for the money". And don't come there because we have the T-38A. Come there because you want to be a high-altitude Recce Pilot in the cockpit of a U-2. In a pressure suit. By yourself. If that isn't your primary reason for going, then save everyone a lot of hassle and look elsewhere.

It will always be a new variant. Like a new flu every year. I’m over it.

not that there are many 11Rs on here but the rumor is the first dude (a co!) got a -46 assignment, no idea where. if they do actually divest half the jets next year, this might be people's chance to escape tinker/robbins/9th circle.

Concur Buy 150 LAAR. 50 for ACC, AFSOC and ANG (station at ANG MQ-9 Reaper bases). Use as an accumulator to absorb production pipeline from SUPT and keep warm till B courses open up for ACC, AFSOC establishes its own program, ANG gets the FTU and distributes as capable with MQ-9 wings, not a dual qual program but a component of the Attack Wing(s). Stateside mission is to train often with the JTAC / TACP / SOF community and keep the AF still primed for the LIC, COIN, Grey Zone fights we will get sucked into like it or not. File that under shit that ain't gonna happen but whatever, it's BO . net Look at the size of the beast, Calidus B-350

With the current Administration? Don't bet on it... Kamala admits she's smoked marijuana

https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/the-facts-on-trumps-travel-restrictions/ I didn’t really recall outrage about Trump travel bans from a racism perspective. Turns out, that’s because it’s more of a republican talking point than reality. Show me some examples if I’m wrong.