Steve Davies

Yes, CH, I did. But what was the context? If you cannot accept that the context is key to interpreting what I said, then you must honestly believe that I don't give a shit about the families, or see them as inconsequential in some way. I wasn't drawing a comparison. I was trying to explain that the media and Government can work together; that the media, much as they often deserve contempt, do sometimes do the right thing as a collective. True - when I say we don't know the full facts, that includes me. Which is fine. But I would have thought that you would know that I am not a typical member of the media (I am not Press, as I said). It's a real shame that you have tarred me with the same brush. I cannot argue with you that the mainstream media follow the political agendas of their paymasters and owners; I know this to be abundantly true. I just don't believe - cannot believe - that every single reporter and editor on the mainstream media is a freaking ghoul.

Why are you taking my comments out of context? We are talking about the relationship between the media and the goverment here. My post, as you know very well, was not addressing the utterly horrific experience of the families and victims, but an example of how media and government can work together amiably when required. Making stuff up? WTF?! The Marine was dead when the photograph was published. Fact. This man was alive when the PA agreed not to publish. Fact. AQ-sympathising hostage takers in the Middle East have previously shunned media attention and threatened to kill hostages if their wishes are not met. Fact. The British Government exercises a media blackout whenever SF operations are being planned or executed. Fact. Media outlets are regularly compliant with requests to limit their coverage of hostage situations. Fact. We don't know the whole story here. Fact. Why, therefore, am I not permitted to caution another poster that he might want to wait for all the facts to become known before he starts judging someone else? Wow, you really have got a problem with the media. I am not a member of the press. I am a small time writer working in a niche field who is self employed and simply loves to write. Like you, I have very little time for the mainstream press, in fact. My argument is supported by a number of facts. Perhaps the most important fact is that we don't know exactly what happened. However, I see that this little point has not stopped you from forming an opinion and voicing it loudly!

Then let me enunciate: You cannot compare publishing a picture of somebody who later died, with holding back on publishing a story about someone who might die if you went to print with it. These two actions are not contradictory, and they are not an example of a double standard.

I don't know how things work in the US, but the UK government has a voluntary agreement with the media here that ensures this sort of thing doesn't happen - the government will brief the media in exchange for their silence for as long as is required. There is also such a thing as a DA notice that the government can slap on a story that legally prevents its publication on the grounds of national security. The system works very well because everyone 'wins', and a great example is the 2007 kidnap in Iraq of five British nationals, the full names and backgrounds of four of whom were only reported following news of their deaths. Regarding Bergdahi, if your government doesn't have a deal with the US media on matters of life and death like this, then I would be very surprised. I would imagine that there is much more to this than meets the eye, especially given the swift recovery of the British national and that fact that some kidnappers (remarkably enough) threaten to kill the hostage(s) if the media cover the story. But, in any case, you've really got to have a problem with the media if you try and compare publishing a photo of someone who later died with the decision not to run a story about someone who could die if you did otherwise! Too late, I already did. See above.

I didn't realise that America was working to stabilise Qatar. I thought that the basing of combat assets at Al Udeid was the result of a marriage of convenience between Dohar and Washington. As such, it's peculiar to say the least for the US military to throw away in Qatar the very freedoms that it is fighting to introduce in Iraq and Afghanistan. You actually need to win the propaganda war at home, first. This policy will not help you do that. And quite how implementing a policy in Qatar that could actually harm your own people (no drinking water on the flightline) will allow you to strike a moral victory over the Taliban or AQ in Iraq or Afghanistan is beyond me.

Good catch - welcome to BaseOps.

Correct - I am saying that if your primary mission is sovereignty operations within the CONUS, you probably don't need AESA, CFT, IRST and a plush EW fit. For that mission, the Block 52+ should more than suffice. But, yes, the F/A-18E/F is about $55m a pop, whereas the F-16E/F goes for about $80m each. Those are the approximate turn-key figures, although with UAE being the only Block 60 operator out there, they are slightly skewed.

If the article is correct, the concern is that the Air Sovereignty mission will suffer without new a/c. For that mission, the Block 60 might be overkill and too expensive (although, it would be ideal if the ANG was tasked again in the same manner as it was for OIF). In which case, why not go with Block 52+? I don't buy the idea that Lockheed cannot make them for the Air Force because the AF wants it to focus all of its attention on the F-35. LM is churning out F-16s already, so why not use that same workforce to build more Vipers - it won't detract from the JSF.

Too many hilarious responses to quote them all, but here are a couple of gems. In response to someone who says that as a cadet he was forced to watch a show in order to make up the numbers: "Tops In Blue show as a cadet, it was because your leadership felt it necessary to take you away from the stress and pressures of daily life at the academy and to relax and enjoy yourself for an hour and a half..." And "While performing in the desert we are reminded why we are in existance over and over, those men and woman are so proud and honored to be americans, and proud to serve their country, and when we finish our show for them they are renewed able to carry on with their mission with a new found strength and desire to do their best." Words of wisdom from a 'TIB Mom': "The Air Force is not ALL about just funding pilots and planes...it is about people... tradition... a mission... a spirit... a TEAM!" and "They are in a constant state of deployment, have NO "Life" outside of TIB during their tour and they love what they do". Brilliant!

Juan and the team that ran a tight ops-tempo in 1992: And while Juan gallantly adjusted knobs and switches to make the sound of the TIB sound oh-so-sweet in spite of his ridiculously tight budget, here's the sort of thing that 'whiny pilots' with their lackadaisical ops tempo were doing (contributing nothing to the mission): Damned pilots and their whining! As a civilian employee of the Air Force who has clearly identified himself, is it wise to call your customers 'bitches' in public? My guess is, um, no.

A surprisingly detailed, full report is available here: F-22 Mishap Report Mr. Cooley ejected at Mach 1.3 just over 3,000' AGL.

"I am looking to get back to my original route to Lima India Charlie Zulu". As Alarm Red says, that's Sig.

Entire video = "it looks like the airplane is probably going to still be useable" = Idiot.

Quick update: We are still looking for a non-Dustoff UH-60L if there is anyone out there who can help. Thanks Steve

I haven't posted there for a couple of years - thanks for the reminder. Brilliant. PM sent. Ditto!

Gents (and Ladies) I am working for a publisher that is commissioning new artwork for the UH-60, SH-60 and EA-6B. The artwork will appear in a product called World Air Information Files that is being sold globally The publisher is Aerospace Publishing, which some of you may know created seminal products such as World Air Power Journal and Wings of Fame. I am looking for individuals from Blackhawk, Seahawk and Prowler communities who can provide photographs of a specific aircraft in their squadron so that the artist can create a new painting. The publisher wants to go with a UH-60L, EA-6B and MH-60R. If you are in any of these communities, or you know someone who is, and are willing to help me provide the artist with references, please drop me a PM. The more current the references the better, and ideally we'd like to feature aircraft that have operated in Afghanistan or Iraq. The images and information you supply would be used only by the artist and would not be published or put on the interweb. By way of return, the publisher will provide 10 large prints of the artwork to you and your squadron as a way of saying thanks. TIA for your time and help! Cheers Steve

True. I looked again and noticed that in the first 10 posts, all but two were sincere attempts to answer his question.

Typical central- or eastern-European who has an inferiority complex so big that it dominates everything he says and does, and for whom a path of utter delusion is the only way forward. I wonder if he knows Venik? If he does, we'll have to get Kurt Plummer in here to ward him off.

Two favourites:

Wow.

Inspired!

As someone who has not changed his avatar, I find your change of avatar offensive.

As an Englishman, I take exception to all the American spelling that goes on here. I bet if I start posting things like 'manoeuvre', 'Aluminium' and 'carburettor', these words would be deleted. Is this forum for Americans only??? Oh wait, this post is a total waste of everybody's time!

Military.com are five months behind everyone else: IW Wing Thread