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/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:41:11 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Regarding the Brits captured by the Iranians. On 13 April, an Air Force Captain named Lance Sijan would have turned 65. He would have, at least, had he not chosen a different path from that chosen by the Brits. The difference in the respective approaches is what underlies the discussion of the behavio(u)r of the Brit sailors and Marines. I've been pretty quiet on the issue, actually. Initially, I wanted more information, though from what we had I was appalled at the response of British leadership, military and political. As the debacle continued, I became more appalled with the response... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:36:29 -0600 Web Reconnaissance for 04/17/2007 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59031 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59031 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:33:24 -0600 The Private of the Buffs. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59028 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59028 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:36:01 -0600 Dance... Dance... wherever you may be.... I am the Lord of the Dance said He.... I'd like to think his wounds are healed and he's dancing a mean jig in the clouds. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59000 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-59000 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:15:53 -0600 This young man.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58997 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58997 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:08:24 -0600 All four years I was at USAFA, I lived in Vandenburg Hall, the "old" dorm. The "new" dorm on the opposite side of the Cadet Area didn't have a name until I was a senior. That year ('75-'76) we dedicated it Sijan Hall. One of the few ceremonies I remember as a Cadet. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58990 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58990 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:25:31 -0600 Sorry, I missed the "Teamwork" post. I agree with everything you've said there, too, John. But even that, IMHO, leads to another current social and cultural dynamic. LOL Wherein, during the same period that our youth have been inculcated with that "moral relativism" and "cultural equivalence" junk, they've had their senses of "self-esteem" and egos over-developed to the detriment of the "team" and the community. There's been so much focus on "uniqueness", "self-absorption", and materialistic "what's in it for ME?", that I don't think many people ... especially in Europe ..... place much priority on "teamwork". We've seen fine exceptions to this in the US military .... despite the "Army of One" double meaning ..... but Europe and Britain are another matter. LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58988 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58988 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:57:24 -0600 Because, Frank - like in my 'teamwork' post - you do it for your buddies. The rest of the issues be damned. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58978 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58978 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:19:32 -0600 I agree that a "failure of leadership" contributed to the behavior of the British detainees in Iran, but I'm afraid a larger societal and cultural dynamic is also at work here. We've just seen the consequences of years of "progressive" inculcation of "cultural equivalence" and "moral relativism". How can we really expect people to endure pain, hardship, suffering, sacrifice, and even death in the name of service to one's country, when they've been "educated" their whole lives to believe there's nothing instrinsically better or superior about their own countries and cultures that are worth it? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58976 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58976 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:32:01 -0600 Col. Cornum (previoiusly Maj Cornum) who was shot down over Iraq in Desert Storm, suffered broken arms, bullet wound in the shoulder and smashed knees, was subsequently abused by her captors. Or even the 7 captured at the beginning of the war. Those folks had to be scared spitless, yet, when they were forced on TV, they were very careful what they said and neither denied or confirmed what the Iraqis were demanding. Surely, they had to be quite a bit more afraid of the situation then these British soldiers. Beyond that, I think that I've said already somebody was obviously very lacadaisical in the SOP for interdiction in allegedly terrorist infested waters close on to so many potential hostiles. Black mark on the record please.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58975 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58975 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:26:58 -0600 Into the Mouth of the Cat. Nice to see it's in reprint -- it's a worthy read..]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58966 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/the_code_of_con.html#comment-58966 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:08:33 -0600