We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:01:11 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Hmmmm. Interesting confluence of stuff here the last two days. The Dems are playing serious ball to get the White House back - and Hillary is in the thick of it (this is the same article I linked to yesterday - stay with me, I'm not suffering from Alzheimer's). They are trying to show they *can* be tough on Defense. (If this *is* a true change in spots, you can thank the GOP for forcing it) We have Morning Sun commenting on that post: First thing that came to my mind since the Dems suggest it so often is a... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html Thu, 14 Jul 2005 07:30:05 -0600 Morning, Morning. Your comment was a catalyst that brought the post into being. No worries! But fix that typo, eh? 8^D http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29148 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29148 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:35:30 -0600 I had to extend my comments. Because I didn't expect to be front page news at the Castle Arrgggh! I was in a very sarcastic mood, and snerked keeping my comment overly short. The post you have made from it gives much food for thought and an entire area for discussion. It's time to discuss this issue seriously before Politics take over and all we hear is the ringing of sound bytes. I both worry that I won't be able to keep up with the discussion over time. It is bound to be a poular topic in the future. At the same time I hope that such an issue is discused at such length that it is impossible for anyone to keep up. It's past time. It's needed. It should be welcomed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29147 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29147 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 12:23:29 -0600 Ry - if you are building combat formations, you're stiffing the Guard. There are no combat units (vice units in combat) in the Reserve. Heh. Between you and Jack, the military is going to be pulling in 6 figure salaries in the middle grades... As for the rest - certainly a possiblity, though they *might* be serious. Regardless - the way the electorate looks at things, which tends to be as in "right now" not over time, this is *not* a waste of breath. For those "I'd really rather vote for a democrat but I saw the Twin Towers fall" voters... this will be manna from heaven. They can *see* the Dems taking Defense seriously - so they must have learned their lesson and I can vote for them again, and not have to worry about those fundamentalist Christians everybody tells me run the republican party... My sister would fall into that category, if she hasn't already shifted back there anyway. That's the problem. It's *IS* possible they've learned their lesson. Not likely, but I'm predjudiced - and I'll vote against 'em for other reasons, anyway. Taxation, their form of nanny-statism (not that I care for Republican nanny-statism, mind you, it just affects me less) and guns. But if they *have* changes, and can/will sustain it, they are going to be a less obnoxious choice to many people who *do* like their government to ensure that they never have a sniffle, always have money, and feel good about themselves. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29107 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29107 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 06:10:51 -0600 Oddball ideas: 1) Where to get the NCO/Officers to build new formations on: Throw money at reservists(Sgt. B for instance, if he did decide to go into the reserves that is.). They're already trained. Already experienced at a the positions beyond what a newly minted individual would be. That stiffs the reserves for sure, but then you turn the reserves into the 'farm club'. The newly minted from w/in the ranks or academy grads fill those reserve slots to get their feet wet and then are moved in to fill slots as they get vacated throughout the force. Works only for a short term(the academy grads will be PISSSED), and should only be tried for a short term. Could also suck supremely. Yeah, this is kinda predicated on the Reserve units being taken out of the mix for a year or so. Maybe detaching pieces of a Reserve unit but not the whole thing. 2) I think it's a cheap trick. They'll call for a bigger mil, not up the budget(choice between funding stuff we'd need 15 years down the line vs. decent pay.), and then likely dump divisions to get a 'peace benefit'--"it's the economy and schools, stupid." 3) They'll get the tax cut repealed--ostensiblely to pay for the increased military--but once they don't see a need for the enlarged military they won't put the tax cut back(which seems to be doing pretty good. Isn't the latest report that the tax revenue higher than expected?). Big waste of breath on their part. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29103 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29103 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 02:45:11 -0600 Arab street attitudes worldwide turning against OBL. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29092 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29092 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 18:16:44 -0600 The Army is doing fine recruiting for combat positions, it's the non-combat ones that are hard to fill. 2 reasons, I think: they're not as exciting for those who want action, and recent experience shows they are TOO exciting for those who just want a semi-civ career & perks. The Marine approach, which emphasizes that ALL recruits are asking to be put in harm's way, seems to generate a robust surplus. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29091 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29091 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 18:12:10 -0600 The Army is doing fine recruiting for combat positions, it's the non-combat ones that are hard to fill. 2 reasons, I think: they're not as exciting for those who want action, and recent experience shows they are TOO exciting for those who just want a semi-civ career & perks. The Marine approach, which emphasizes that ALL recruits are asking to be put in harm's way, seems to generate a robust surplus. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29090 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29090 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 18:11:56 -0600 The situation we are in now is one where ever ones ox is going to be gored. It's my opinion that BRAC has been largely a mistake in the form that it has taken. The idea was to cut costs, but it turned into nearsighted disregard for the future. We have lost the infrastructure to train troops for the certain future conflicts that will arise with China and terrorist enemies. Maintaining an armed force that will be able to protect us in the future is iffy when relying on an all volunteer force. It was enough in the 80's and 90's but the world has changed. The military is still suffering from the inertia that is inherent in an organization that takes its leaders from a pool that has for 30 years of indoctrination in the status quo. While you can replace the civilian heads, its the generals that mold the orders in the long run. A draft might be a bitter meal to take but we do need more troops and we are not getting them the way we are doing it now. We must realize that what we are seeing today will not be over next year or even ten years from now. We are looking at the 100 Years War writ large. Paying for it will take much of our treasury, but it is that or accepting that we will be attacked on all sides into the far future. Demographic trends say that Europe will be a Moslem continent in 50 to 75 years. As well, Moslem conversions are on the rise in South America. If the American public cannot be convinced of this bloody future soon, we are going to be in deep doo doo down the road. A Very Pessimistic Old Man http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29079 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29079 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 13:16:15 -0600 That bill to add 20k troops a year would have been nice about 2-3 years ago. And I agree, the two long poles in the tent are where to get the cadre-NCOs and officers-and where to put them. Although at the LTC/CSM and above level, I'd bet there are some retirees who you could get to come back if you put them in command again. Actually, you could probably even get 1SGs that way. As far as where to base them, I know there are some forts in not so desireable locations that were closed in previous BRAC rounds that could be brought back on line. Places like Ft Chaffee, AR and maybe even FT Ord and Ft Dix. Hell, it wouldn't be pleasant, but building an Army base would actually be a legit use for eminent domain. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29072 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29072 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:21:06 -0600 Good stuff here, John. :) Thanks for the info and perspective. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29068 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29068 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:39:23 -0600 Which, btw - is a piece of tax reform I'm *not* in favor of repealing! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29067 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29067 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:27:21 -0600 Right, like they didn't work to remove the marriage penalty on income tax until AFTER I got a divorce... :-P As they say, it's all in the timing. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29066 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29066 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:22:52 -0600 What missing link, Jack? (coy look) Oh, and sure, lavish the money on 'em *after* I retire. Bassid. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29065 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29065 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:19:43 -0600 You update the post and don't add the link to Random Fate you say you neglected? Shame on you!!! :-P Seriously, though, I have long felt we needed to expand the size of the Army (yes, the ARMY, not the Armed Forces in general) to reflect the nature of the threats and missions we are confronted with. And since I am one of those who benefited the most from the tax cuts implemented by the current Bush administration, I don't feel hypocritical in saying that using a repeal of those tax cuts to finance it is a fine idea. I share your concern regarding where the cadre to form the expanded force will come from, and I wish we would take decisive action to make the Army a far more attractive career financially (yes, I know it is good if those who are there are motivated by patriotism, but money is a powerful incentive that private industry uses to lure the best and brightest away). Sigh... Nothing is easy, is it? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29064 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29064 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:15:02 -0600 Pennywit today regarding the connection between Rumsfeld, Guantanamo, and Abu Ghirab. I remain the honorable contrarian. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29058 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29058 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:48:52 -0600 I worked for David Petraeus when he was commanding the 101st Abn Div. The guy has his head on straight, and is real good about distinguishing between the important stuff and the unimportant. I'd listen seriously to whatever he has to say about the situation in Iraq. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29056 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/07/gloom_despair_and_agony_on_me.html#comment-29056 Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:26:07 -0600