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As usual, none of the juicy details are included; which is why we continue to have such issues... Honestly, if it's been proven he's done something wrong, then make it known. Quit hiding behind catch phrases.

Everybody is willing to fight to the last American....

We need to get away from this idea of "what party you will vote for in the future." If you look at the electoral college in the past, presidents from both sides won overwhelming majorities of the country, and the states swung from left to right like a pendulum. We need to go back to that. There should be no Democratic or Republican voters. Those are teams. There are certainly liberal-minded and conservative-minded people, but those people should make a decision on which politicians and which parties represent their priorities at the moment they cast a vote, and just like those priorities change regularly and in response to the world around us, so too should the people you vote for each election. I know you aren't advocating for party loyalty, but I think we're at a point where even the language we use to describe politics is inadvertently reinforcing the notion that each of us belongs to a political team, and the voting trends support this notion.

Sorry, no one has adequately explained why my son should die for Ukraine or Taiwan. If those countries are absorbed into their respective aggressors, is anyone in the US less safe in a quantifiable way? “Defender of the global commons” is insufficient rationale unless it translates to an actual threat to US personnel. Now if you want to start some shit with China because of the US Fentanyl crisis or C19 I’m game to hear you out, but we should probably have a real intel assessment first.

Yep, sure, they changed. I never had an issue with parties - voted Republican from 2000-2008, voted for Obama in 2012, then voted Trump in 2016. I just couldn’t vote for Trump again in 2020. Some days recently, though, I wish I had. There are plenty of independents that are immensely disillusioned with wokeism, double standards, and equity BS. Also, hating on America is so fuckin lame. If an election was today, I’d put big bucks on not the Dems (if Rs can find a single person other than Trump). I just wish I could find a party that combines republican independence/foreign policy ideals with a desire to both effectively tax/deal with the folks that exploit our economy (99% of people with NWs > 50M) and acknowledge scientific evidence on things like global warming. Need more scientific populism. Geniocracy anyone? But instead, because both those things are in drastically different political parties, I - and tons of others like me - have to compromise in a dumb way.

This period will go down in history as the time when America squabbled with itself over internal trivialities while China built its swarming hordes into a military and economic monster. We need to focus on turning the entire world - including Russia - against China and letting go of moronic stupid shit like “let’s go Brandon” and calling everyone a racist.

trump was right about the deep state and swamp. it's real and both sides happily wade into it. we have a professional ruling elite disguised as "democracy" and the "people's choice". such a deception. and to keep the heat off themselves, they pit R's and D's against each other and throw out political bait every election cycle to be happily gobbled up by the unclean masses.

I get it, I'm sick of freeloaders with the money, tech, industry and the military age male population to help secure the free world but don't as they benefit from the system and international political and security conditions that exist now thru the sacrifice of blood and treasure, thru expensive and difficult continued vigilance to deter aggression. I see how this appears tenuous but allowing the weak to be bullied, conquered, assimilated, etc... when that weak state is not geographically close, economically significant or culturally tied to us but it is. It is the principle that we don't leave our friends and allies out to dry. That where it matters, where aggression would threaten the free world, to the rules based order, we and others will fight for it. That we are the powerful nation that is willing to act on the principle that others deserve the right to live as they wish without being dominated unwillingly by others and that we will fight with those being oppressed to prevent that. We approached, encouraged and publicly supported Ukranian democracy, reform and turn to the West, this drew the ire of Russia and now as the storm clouds gather, we abandon them? Seems unbecoming to a nation that prides itself on being the shinning city on the hill and the guarantor of freedom. I don't believe in poking the bear but running from it is not acceptable either. I don't think your son, mine or any American should be sacrificed in a war, conflict or military operation that is not fought to win but that rightfully skeptical sentiment given our recent debacle in withdrawal from Afghanistan should not stop us from fighting or deterring a fight that is not an unsolvable problem like nation building in places where a nation really only exists on a map. I'm not naive, I know our power is not infinite and not every conflict is our responsibility, we have to choose wisely where we have to or should intervene. If Ukraine is invaded or Russia takes other aggression towards them beyond what they are doing now, I believe we should help them. Just my two cents.

I talked personally with Gen Moseley about this ~10 years ago and think it was genuine. But everyone is entitled to their opinions. Agree with everything you said about Bob.

We, both our military and our nation, are weaker now than we've been since I've been alive. That is not to degrade our warfighters - We've been betrayed by politicians and the media. As a nation we have never been more divided and as a fighting force we've been out-procured by our biggest threat to a degree not fathomable in the past.

Hey fucker!

Not that finally leaving after 20+ years with over a decade of that trying to get them to defend themselves is a big "fuck job." But some of you act like this is the first time we've fucked over those we promised to help. There have been plenty before and they'll be more in the future.

Hey, I remember hearing this idea from some dude in a B-hut once! 😁

Never said it was (or wasn't) a good idea. That said, the Air Force has dumped a bunch of money and resources into the effort, and folks like @NotApilot have dedicated a portion of their careers to it. I'm curious as to how it worked out for the Air Force, and how it worked out for the individuals.

As a 'great' American once said (paraphrased), "Somebody did something..."

It’s certainly amazing how fast this whole thing disappeared from the mainstream view. Good thing there is another COVID variant to drum up fear porn over.

a. If the countries actually near-by aren't willing to stand up against The Bear, why is it on us? Germany, France, et al, you lead. We'll follow the sounds of crickets to find the your NATO fight and join in. That is, of course, assuming you have the cojones to ignore the lack of gas that Russia isn't sending your way and you are shivering in the dark. b. Big China can and will assimilate Little China eventually; likely within Xi's lifetime (aka Winne the Pooh). And we won't do a thing. Regardless of Administration, but especially under this one, by the time we could get there in any meaningful way, it's a done deal. CCP is willing to take the casualties; I'm not sure Taiwan is prepared to. I know we aren't. Nor would we trade Shanghai for L.A. in any large-scale exchange.

I agree completely with lack of desire to command not equaling less than selfless service, and I think there are GOs that do equate that. There is a point though where you are going to have to force people to command if they want to stay in as an O-6 because we have to fill our command requirements. It’s why officers exist. If you really don’t want to command at the O-6 level, don’t make O-6. Otherwise the possibility is out there just due to the numbers.

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.

And from the NYT of all places...

Just ask Tom Clancy. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

It has nothing to do with focused attention on each platform, and sadly crossflow won't stop the tribalism. The issue is and has been the Pavelow Mafia and what they have done through the years. I am skimming the surface on their TTPs but in short they executed what Big Blue tried to do on the GO development side. They picked key talent VERY early and made them the "chosen ones". They stratified a few thoroughbreds in each year group, and pushed them forward no matter what. Dudes actually knew what there "number" was in their entire year group and once they were "made" the senior folks carefully managed the chosen ones to make sure they were BPZ at multiple ranks, in the right job, at the right school and in the right position to continue the program. For many years AFSOC had only one wing and the Commander was almost always a Pavelow guy. The Gunships, Talons and Shadows were relegated to second tier jobs. A few MC guys leaked through once in a while, but the Pavelow guys always made it back into the rotation. Any time a gunship bro would excel the mafia made sure they didn't get command at Hurlburt...the only wing with gunships. Fiel and Hiethold popped as GOs but both had to be Wing/CCs elsewhere. I think the first gunship dude to make BG as the Hurlburt Wing/CC was Westy and they made sure he retired as a one star. Honestly I blame Fiel and Hiethold. Fiel enabled the current sycophant and his CAT 5 successor to survive and enabled their caustic ways. CAT 5 did a lot of F'd up things and Fiel could have ended him, but he was persuaded the dude could be "fixed" and he let him continue. Rather than fall on his sword and take the case to CSAF, Hiethold took the easy route and pushed them both away to Korea, where they put their rings together and survived to rise from the ashes. A Pavelow followed Hiethold in the AFSOC/CC chair and the deal was done. A complete travesty...Elton should have been the pick and he would have done wonders for the entire enterprise. I don't think most know how bad it really is. The AFOSC/CC does not like AC-130 types, he thinks they are stone cold killers that need mental health help, something he has openly been heard saying in the halls of the command. He actually ordered a reflection event for the gunship community, not because of the woke nonsense, but because he thinks the gunship community kills too many people to easily. It is absolutely shocking some of the things this clown has said to other senior officers. He has even gone as far as to offer to give up all the AC-130's in the command to enable his other pet projects. And let there be no doubt, the lunatic coming in behind him will continue the destruction.

‘Big sky, little satellite’ has not worked for decades. The problem was just ignored until the launch rush started. Over 20,000 pieces of operating facilities + debris just before Starlink by it’s own got approval for ~40k in total. More than 50k satellites are planned to be launched in the nearest 50 years. International leverage for launch slots and all the planned trials for debris removal are to handle the orbits. Reported in media.

A successful outcome means they can’t continue to the stoke the fires of division and hatred. That’s why they have to throw gems like this into their articles about the case: https://abc7.com/ahmaud-arbery-death-murder-trial-jury-deliberations-georgia-killing/11266887/ Gotta keep the systemic racism lies and hatred juice flowin.

Wait, you're telling me AFSOC A3T's staff processes aren't up to snuff?, or that the different floors of AFSOC HQ aren't talking to one another, shocked I tell you, just shocked! /s