Clark Griswold

Good point but expanding on that idea I think we have seen the high water mark of democratization in China, Russia, KSA, etc... democracy requires consensus which is harder to get these days in large, diverse nations as the coalescing ideas of nationality are being assaulted by the atomizing of ethnicity, religion, class, cultural preference (religious v. secular), etc... It is sad that the democratic republic, democracy electing representatives who in theory are not governed by the passions, parochial and selfish interests are not able to make objective decisions based on outcomes best in the long term, at best the modern democracy seems to really only be capable of lurching from one edge to the next barely avoiding going over it.

The Democratic Republic is failing the test of history unfortunately. Democracies are not proving capable of disciplining themselves and living well outside of its means, all of them are in debt, unfortunately I believe the next century will probably be dominated by the authoritarian systems that while not as productive or creative as free societies they have far greater abilities to defend their borders, economies, culture and harness what they have via command and conformity to out maneuver societies that require consensus to move. This quote is attributed usually to Alexander Fraser Tytler but has been attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville, either or it may be how it unfolds: A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilisations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage. Not sure if we are at complacency to apathy or apathy to dependence yet.

Restart on thread. Only tangental to the original topic of this thread (USA gov debt default) but I feel sorry for the Greek people (everyday man on the street) having to wait and see if their money and personal wealth is about to evaporate via freeze & seizure of deposits made in Euros. Greeks Line Up at Banks and Drain ATMs as Tsipras Calls Vote Slow motion run on the banks. Minor edit.

Meet Northrop's XST, The Plane That Lost Out To The Original Stealth Jet

Nice. The Old Guard putting some very low SA and respect tourists in their place. I was in DC not too long ago and did some of the usual sights; the lack of control, civility, respect and general culture is astounding today, that and the incessant need to film or selfie every possible moment at a site that even the most basically educated and civilized person should know to comport themselves makes a mockery of everything that a nation should revere. I bet everyone of those a-holes would be deeply offended if at their relatives' wedding, funeral or at a church service at the First Baptist Church of Somewhere USA if the crowd chatted and had to film every last detail while letting their little hellion run loose so why is it at what they should know is a solemn place do they act like a my drunk Cousin Eddie? Rant complete.

Gimme a mini-gunship too.

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/f-35b-makes-its-first-leap-off-the-ski-jump-1713406488

Decade forecast from Stratfor, sounds plausible, world somewhat FUBAR somewhat functional. https://www.stratfor.com/forecast/decade-forecast-2015-2025 Here's the Jack Ryan part: It is unlikely that the Russian Federation will survive in its current form. Russia's failure to transform its energy revenue into a self-sustaining economy makes it vulnerable to price fluctuations. It has no defense against these market forces. Given the organization of the federation, with revenue flowing to Moscow before being distributed directly or via regional governments, the flow of resources will also vary dramatically. This will lead to a repeat of the Soviet Union's experience in the 1980s and Russia's in the 1990s, in which Moscow's ability to support the national infrastructure declined. In this case, it will cause regions to fend for themselves by forming informal and formal autonomous entities. The economic ties binding the Russian periphery to Moscow will fray Historically, the Russians solved such problems via the secret police — the KGB and its successor, the Federal Security Services (FSB). But just as in the 1980s, the secret police will not be able to contain the centrifugal forces pulling regions away from Moscow this decade. In this case, the FSB's power is weakened by its leadership's involvement in the national economy. As the economy falters, so does the FSB's strength. Without the FSB inspiring genuine terror, the fragmentation of the Russian Federation will not be preventable. ... This will create the greatest crisis of the next decade. Russia is the site of a massive nuclear strike force distributed throughout the hinterlands. The decline of Moscow's power will open the question of who controls those missiles and how their non-use can be guaranteed. This will be a major test for the United States. Washington is the only power able to address the issue, but it will not be able to seize control of the vast numbers of sites militarily and guarantee that no missile is fired in the process. How the hell do you secure 4000+ nukes in Russia as its coming apart?

Another article on CAS & the A-10: https://warontherocks.com/2015/06/the-future-of-close-air-support-is-not-what-the-air-force-thinks/?singlepage=1 This was a rebuttal (sorta) of this article:https://warontherocks.com/2015/05/the-a-10-the-f-35-and-the-future-of-close-air-support-part-i/?singlepage=1

Hopefully none, I don't see this actually happening but maybe this could light a fire under the USAF to come up with a COA other than divestment.

Copy that - thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Are there proposals for tours for ANG / AFR for RPAs to fill the gaps until the manning is on a better footing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Boeing has ideas for the A-10 https://www.dodbuzz.com/2015/06/16/boeing-looks-to-sell-retired-a-10-warthogs-abroad/?comp=1198882887570&rank=3

Thanks M2 That looks like a good accommodation between the individual and institution.

Sikh applicant approved to compete for an Army ROTC without a dress & appearance waiver in place prior to application or acceptance. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/15/sikh-student-turban-rotc_n_7588642.html I checked 36-2903 after reading this and depending on your interpretation this probably would not be an issue (at least IMO) for basic entry but some duty could be excluded based on inability to wear the required uniform/gear with the turban, required beard, etc... Question: Has anyone seen or are there observant Sikhs in the USAF who wear the turban & beard? I haven't seen much of or really any wear of religious apparel or in my career but I figured the wear of a headscarf, kipa, crucifix, etc... with the uniform on duty has come up and what were the interpretations of 36-2903 then?

2 I did a UAV assignment then got back to the manned world and would not go back, it's important but not why I joined, I have no doubt that if they attached a golden apple to it like an ACE program and an emphasis on QOL to keep dudes from getting burned out and pissed off (non-vol centric perspective) they would take the RPA job with more enthusiasm Expanding on the idea they are good for the fight we are currently in, the anti-UAV systems are starting to come online too, move counter-move. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/british-smes-develop-system-to-counter-uavs-412481/ https://www.uasvision.com/2015/06/10/thales-developing-counter-uav-technology/ https://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2014/03/army-focusing-on-counter-uav-weapons.html https://www.popsci.com/south-korea-gets-ready-drone-drone-warfare Minor edit.

We'll get that check when this happens Another article from Medium on the fire, sounds like the guy has an ax to grind but it has more info on the cause and basically implicates the F135 engine is flawed. Take with 2 milligrams of salt. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-f-35-can-just-catch-on-fire-sometimes-eecce430792b

F-35A fire from last year - $50 million in damages but pilot got out ok. https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/we-finally-get-our-first-look-at-the-barbecued-f-35-nea-1709394767#

All is not quiet on the southern front... U.S. helicopter fired on from Mexico side of the border, authorities say **UPDATES** BREAKING: US CBP CHOPPER DOWN AT TEXAS BORDER, FIRED ON FROM MEXICO .

America has officially gone bat-shit insane. I will add to the pile one more example of living breathing insanity mixed with child like naivety with a bright red cherry of stupid on top. Behold the idiocy of Starri Hedges, "free thinking" teacher extrodinaire. Parents Livid Over ‘Democratic’ School’s Shock Field Trip — but the Director Says It Was ‘Beautiful’

2 Looking out for your people leadership, like this guy... Never been involuntarily mobilized but that is a new turd for my punchbowl of cynicism.

Long article in two parts, worth the read... Part 1 https://warontherocks.com/2015/05/the-a-10-the-f-35-and-the-future-of-close-air-support-part-i/?singlepage=1 Part 2 https://warontherocks.com/2015/05/the-a-10-the-f-35-and-the-future-of-close-air-support-part-ii/?singlepage=1

Quite possibly true but light a candle rather than curse the darkness or kick a bully in the nits then run like hell either or True on losing control of ANG units and not related to the theme of this thread I have heard a rumor persistently that the master plan the AF has is to try to get to most states only having one wing - got a friend at the Bureau who calls BS on that but it seems possible ala the MC-12 & C-27 were going to be distributed to ANG units but now as the AF has or will pull the rug out from theses programs - I believe that rumor - that is passing poisoned pills to eventually shrink the ANG Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup but what was done can be undone Convention of the States Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True - I imagine a force organized trained and resourced by the states but under the chain of command like the guard is now. Militias outside of the MIC that is the Pentagon/DoD/Congress & Contractors This could reassert the role of the states away from just one all powerful Borg federal government - the militia can never be used against the Constitution only in support of it and it is not so much of the Armed Forces of the USA that if the states can not be convinced to contribute that the Federal Government could not act If the states don't make themselves relevant soon they will soon be irrelevant by default Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk