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I just took a high-level briefing on this- Take rates are WAY up this year compared to last. The percentages are actually pretty staggering. We are well on our way to solving this crisis.

If General Chang ran for Congress.

I also like that he’s in his 30s with a family. Even if we’re in different circles of society, or don’t completely agree on everything, I would love to see someone who actually is living in the stage of life with kids at home. I’m sick of some 75+ yr old who is so out of touch with the American family (regardless of which party) but acts like they know what you need.

https://x.com/tuckercarlson/status/1692282708397863374?s=57&t=kJzkkF_dxqcTfdJgf3sbLQ Really good discussion from Vivek. Even if you hate Tucker, this is worth your time. He actually talks very little (surprising, I know) - it’s mostly Vivek talking. It’s time we have an election that isn’t Trump v Biden (or similar old, rich white dudes).

But how much of a bonus do you have to offer the AI to keep it from going to Delta?

That’s so irrelevant right now (the argument robots are taking all the pilot jobs). I was one of the “last” manned fighter pilots in 2009, reality is the last manned fighter pilot hasn’t been born.

I listened to Vivek on the All In podcast and I thought he did a pretty good job. I have some disagreements with him, but at this stage, I think he may be the closest to what I would want in the White House. And the left can't accuse him off just being an old white man, so the diversity angle is covered.

He has my vote by a landslide at this point.

Multiple guys in my Guard unit (myself included) have ROPMA'd without any ACSC. I did SOS in-res before separating from AD. Not sure on the other guys. Meanwhile my Reservist buddy was recently passed over (clean record, WO, ACSC in correspondence). Two different worlds.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-a-russian-disinformation-campaign-in-ukraine-in-2014/2017/12/25/f55b0408-e71d-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html An example of the Russian backed BS perspective you’ve been repeating on this very site. Despite all the cited examples of exactly what was being done in the wake of that situation, you’ll probably still act like the Russians were giving us some insight into “what was really going on” while alluding that WAPO writing what I linked is part of some greater propaganda and protection effort by the liberal backed media or some other nonsense. Again, you’re clueless, and what’s worse your willful of it to achieve your political goal. Nobody is fighting you with Ukrainian disinformation, they are telling you you’re an adult sitting in the kiddie pool of “facts” trying to tell us all its unusually warm and that’s some sort of thing caused by our government while the rest of us try to warn you it’s actually just full of piss. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quadrupled down on what? Pointing out that you're only able to identify propaganda when it doesn't come from you? I am genuinely interested in your position, if it can stand. But childishly repeating: "Russian Talking Points" ad nauseam doesn't give you any credibility. I'm not here to change anyone else's mind. I'm not here to be agreeable. I'm here to change my own mind. I have no idea your age or what stage of your career you're in, but I was there. If 10 years ago someone was telling me the same things I'm telling you, I'd have been highly defensive as well. And, for the same reasons I explained earlier. I read a lot, I observe a lot, and my perspective changes based on an accumulation of info that I process according to my values and morality. When I present my evolved opinion here on the matter that is critical of both sides, and not just one, I fully expect it to be attacked. I wouldn't be writing these long-winded posts if I didn't thoroughly enjoy your criticisms and finding holes in your logic. If you're 100% unwilling to condemn propaganda on both sides instead of just one, I know you're not arguing in good faith. You calling me a "stooge" or a "shill" because I don't adopt YOUR talking points and propaganda is amusing because it's glaringly hypocritical to anyone with an ounce of integrity. Those Psyops guys that you'd like for me to speak with... what exactly is their job? Is it only to identify enemy propaganda and counter it with the truth? I've known plenty of PSYOPS guys. I've dropped pallets full of the "truth" in the form of leaflets over the skies of IRQ/AFG. I'm well aware of their job and if you claim to not know that our current government aims a little propaganda our way as well, or you know it and are not also critical of it, you're being dishonest. There's a thousand reasons to love the "my" country, but that doesn't mean I can't be critical of it in the instances it falls short of my expectations. And it is "mine" no less, and no more, than it is yours or anyone else's. If your defense is so delicate that you can't accept any criticism whatsoever, nor admit any fault, you are operating in bad faith and your character is maybe a little weak. I care about Russia about as little as one possibly could. I've never mentioned or written about "Tucker". Why are you trying to inject him into the conversation? Is this a left vs right thing for you? You'll spend a thousand words decrying something being "from the Internet", "from Russia", "from Twitter", "from Tucker"....but you'll never address the content itself. It's kinda like the rainbow hair people who scream into the camera when someone asks them a simple, logical question that defeats their position. I've been asking you specific detailed questions about your position and you ever-so consistently decline to approach them. Instead, you deflect with irrelevant nonsense about "Tucker", "Soros", "Nazis", "Illuminati," "Covid", etc. Interestingly, these are all leftist criticisms. Hmm.

Holy crap you’ve like quadrupled down on this now like all the rest of us need to prove something you’ve repeatedly been shown. You are spouting off Russian Talking Points as your argument and linking to dubious Twitter/etc accounts (whoever’s they happen to be) with apparently no understanding of how social media intertwines with itself or how that very fact is abused for illicit means. I’d tell you go talk to some Psyops guys or just remember your SERE training on indoctrination and soft vs hard influence efforts, but you’re the smart one. It’s all the rest of us that are being duped. So no share away if that’s how you want to be identified, but those of us pointing you out as a stooge will be more than happy to remind the room how willing you are to drag a hostile powers IA campaign into a discussion to achieve whatever your ideological desire happens to be. You’re a shill because it aligns with your need to rage against the current system/admin just like Tucker was. Plain and simply. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Recon Sabres F-100 Slick Chicks

I heard they're starting to put less orange chicken into your order at Panda Express, the Chinese are asking for it.

The old silverback lounge. Lol

Biden 100% had a say in the execution of the withdrawal. As the President of our nation, he bears ultimate responsibility for the endeavor. More importantly, he personally set the date for Kabul mandatory departure time against recommendations of senior GOs. The "31 Aug" arbitrary target was a huge driver to chaos at HKIA, and was a direct order from Biden. Even after the military demonstrated the order would make ensuring all AMCITs escaped impossible, Biden was steadfast. DOS also bears responsibility and they encouraged this decision.

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but I really don't want to get into a back and forth internet thing. I just use the vote buttons.

Looking back at my points, I received points for doing SOS while on an overseas deployment, so I'd think you would get them. The only thing I can think of is if you're doing a full year of orders, you may not get them because you only get 365 retirement points in a year. break break Update to an earlier post in this thread. It has been done, a great friend/squadron mate has successfully ROPMA'd to LTC without doing SOS or ACSC. It couldn't have happened to a better guy. Fucking legend!

25th CAB had to fight to get what paltry contribution they ended up with into the ordeal. Hawaii after action should be interesting if they ever make the chains of communication public because heads will roll. You had an entire Army CAB at the behests of the division commander literally lay it all at the disposal to the mission and they finally asked for a couple helicopters to pull Bambi bucket missions. People in state leadership potions should be fired. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Great questions. The answer is no. Every GO sold out, repeated the same supportive tripe in public while privately voicing concern at our trajectory, yet continued up the chain of rank and pay. Imagine if we had leaders who said this: “I resign from active service. I love our country but cannot continue in good conscience to lead our men and women into danger with no clear objective or purpose. Indecisive political policies are irresponsible, and I resign in hopes the ensuing attention will cause this matter to be taken seriously and resolved with urgency.” GOs reading this, and I know they are, will doubtlessly guffaw at the simplistic scenario I present above. However, they lacked the courage to take bold action. Everyone with combat experience knows we don’t have bold/courageous General Officers. We have highly intellectual GOs who can stay up 20 hours a day, run miles each morning and work their staff to death analyzing a multitude of variables… but they aren’t bold and can’t win.. So to the GOs readIng this in fury at my condemnation- I’m certain you think I am ignorant of how futile and ostracizing my proposed COA would be. You’d be embarrassed in front of your peers. It would be awkward and socially uncomfortable. But had you played that card, you’d be a hero today. Instead, congrats on the retired rank but you’re forever attached to the ignominy of how those wars ended. FWIW I practice what I preach and burned every bridge on my way out over an issue to help my young squadron members. It was uncomfortable going from #1 to the trash can, my peers and supervisors despised me at the end and I didn’t have a retirement ceremony over this issue. However, I played every card and logged a major win for the young captains 6 weeks before retiring.

Only this time there’s a 1/5 chance it DOESN’T involve them rolling into an Article 5 country. Quick let’s predict the Russian justification for invading Moldova. I’m gonna guess Secret NATO nuclear weapons stocks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And what is you end goal? Surrender a bunch of territory to Russia and do this again in 7-10 years, like when they took Crimea?

There are lots of examples of Ukrainians willing to fight the Russians. There are also lots of examples of Ukrainians being forcibly conscripted off the streets and being sent to the front lines with minimal or no training.

Moved from the Chinese thread. You have a single tactic in your repertoire: "Everything I don't like is Russian propaganda". You haven't posted anything of substance to support your position and you immediately disengage from discussing actual events, specific details, and examples. If I ask you a question regarding such, you've got absolutely nothing and revert to your robotic "You. are. spreading. Russian. propaganda." Multiple sites and domains? Which ones? If you don't agree with my position, I am perfectly fine with that. You have an unlimited amount of words and space to type your rebuke. This is a fantastic place to express and articulate your beliefs, yet you don't. You seem to be more interested in silencing me than proving me wrong. That antidote to bad speech is more speech. The truth will eventually win, whatever it turns out to be. You appear to only want to take the intellectually lazy shortcut by saying "You shouldn't be speaking." The question still stands: Do you believe I should be restricted from saying the things I'm saying here because you've deemed them false propaganda and giving "aid and comfort to the enemy"? You decision to dodge that question reveals as much your answer. If you believe my argument is dumb, do you worry everyone else on this forum is dumb enough to be influenced by it? This site is filled with smart people. I trust them to form their own opinions. They don't need you and the Ministry of Truth to police the forum. What exactly do you think you're doing here? Are you gonna "humble" me with your singular superior intellectual defense of moaning about "Propaganda!" coupled with lame insults? If you think that's going to yield desirable results, better strap in for the long haul because you're gonna be here a while. LOL. By all means, keep flailing away. That's the question and the reason I posted it. Is it propaganda, or is it fact? It's a pro-Ukrainian message from a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It appears you're only able to identify propaganda when it contradicts your message. Are you so insecure in your messaging that you can't even allow yourself to acknowledge that propaganda exists on your own side, and is often even more far-fetched and ridiculous? The predicament being: If you do acknowledge it, I'm just going to give you more examples. https://twitter.com/SarahAshtonLV/status/1691105018215317504?s=20

I don't agree with the premise that the US is somehow forcing the Ukrainians to fight for us. I'd point to Afghanistan as an example of the fact that we can't force anyone to fight for their own land if they don't fundamentally want to as a society. I'd also argue that stopping the Russian advance greatly benefits everyone who doesn't want to be tortured in a basement.. By all accounts, life under Russian occupation really sucks, that's why they are fighting against them. If we stop sending a few percentage points of our defense budget, putin gets rewarded, aggression is normalized (risk of China becoming more encouraged to act on their dozens of border disputes) and many more Ukrainians die. They will fight to the last inch of Ukraine whether we help them or not, I'd rather see Russia lose.

do you really think biden had any say in the planning and execution of that (I fully agree with you) shitshow? it's been a disaster since we rolled in with handcuffs on; what makes you think an old ass civilian (that's non-partisan btw) would have the answer?

what's the stated end goal of the "endless ukranian support" drones? what is your goal? because endlessly throwing money at ukraine no matter what seems like a poor national security strategy.