Comments for The Secretary of the Army - on the future of the Army. 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/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:30:47 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Secretary of the Army - on the future of the Army. Soldiers Distribute School Supplies in Kalsu. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis April 18, 2008. Cpl. Markbradley Vincze gives students from al-Raqhaa School backpacks April 14 in the Monsouri area of Iraq. Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-76th FA, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., delivered backpacks, soccer balls and notebooks. " In the 21st Century, wars are not won when the enemy army is defeated on the battlefield - in fact, there may not be a uniformed enemy to fight at all. Instead, today, a war is won only when the conditions that spawned armed conflict have... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:34:48 -0600 Comment from Ledger on 2008-04-25 ublic relations was invented in the United States, yet we are miserable at communicating to the rest of the world what we are about as a society and a culture, about freedom and democracy, about our policies and our goals. It is just plain embarrassing that al-Qaeda is better at communicating its message on the Internet than America. – Sec Gates True. Definitely don't ignore them, but let's recognize the reality that 89% of them are in the tank for domestic oppositional elements who share common short-term objectives with an enemy whose strategic communications and Morale Operations against the domestic target audience depend on the MSM as delivery vehicles for their message –Cannoneer No. 4 True Now, John and Bill are doing their share on the communications front. But, Cannoneer No. 4 makes a valid point. The enemy has basically bought the MSM (or intimidated their stringers). Because of the current laws it is next to impossible to sanction an enemy saturated “News organization.” But, I believe it is entirely possible to investigate said “News organization” and turn the tables on them. The enemy uses slick back alley K street “Communications consultants.” I see no reason why the US military cannot do the same. This is information Gorilla War. The US should deal with it equally. Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Rose were unmasked by the USA. Why shouldn’t the new Iran Rose be unmasked? The answer: She should be unmasked (however Un-Politically Correct it may be). I would suggest that the military discreetly but effectively unmask those who disseminate anti-military propaganda to the US public. Will it be easy? No. Will it require the intelligence of the Manhattan Project? No. Will it require adroit maneuvering? Yes. Can it be done? Yes. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72494 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72494 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:24:30 -0600 Comment from Cannoneer No. 4 on 2008-04-25 Mandrake. Group Captain Ramsey was Senior British Officer at Luft Stalag III.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72490 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72490 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:26:12 -0600 Comment from ry on 2008-04-24 Group Captain Ramsey Gentleman, there's no fighting in the war room. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72487 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72487 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:59:25 -0600 Comment from Cannoneer No. 4 on 2008-04-24 Let Me Just Say... I for one will not be welcoming our new Democratic overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a bitter, clinging rightwing nutcase, I consider it my sworn duty to aid the escape of those toiling in their underground sugar caves, and cause them to use an inordinate number of party faithful to guard them, and to harass them to the best of my ability, just like Group Captain Ramsey said. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72482 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72482 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:57:45 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-04-24 #4 has a way with words, don't he? And he can jargon-speak with the best of them. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72466 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72466 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:28:39 -0600 Comment from fdcol63 on 2008-04-24 " ... evokes unwelcome homoerotic images of vaseline and kneepads .... " ROFLMAO! ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72465 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72465 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:23:14 -0600 Comment from Cannoneer No. 4 on 2008-04-24 Definitely don't ignore them, but let's recognize the reality that 89% of them are in the tank for domestic oppositional elements who share common short-term objectives with an enemy whose strategic communications and Morale Operations against the domestic target audience depend on the MSM as delivery vehicles for their message. Nine months from now when the counterinsurgent-supportive become the Loyal Opposition, the current “Loyal Opposition” assumes responsibility for retreat and disgrace, and the insurgent-supportive element within the newly-victorious counterinsurgent’s party demands indictments, sucking up to the alligators in the hope that they eat you last will be recognized for what it is. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72464 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72464 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:21:06 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-04-24 Fort Leavenworth. Well, just about everywhere, actually. The verbiage:
The Army Family Covenant We recognize the commitment and increasing sacrifices that our families are making every day. We recognize the strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of their families. We are committed to providing Soldiers and families a quality of life that is commensurate with their service. We are committed to providing our families a strong, supportive environment where they can thrive. We are committed to building a partnership with Army families that enhances their strength and resilience. We are committed to improving family readiness by: • Standardizing and funding existing family programs and services • Increasing accessibility and quality of healthcare • Improving Soldier and family housing • Ensuring excellence in schools, youth services, and child care • Expanding education and employment opportunities for family members
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72459 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72459 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:45:06 -0600 Comment from ry on 2008-04-24 I really hadn't a whole lot to say, BB. I am *curious* as to what this Covenant is. BUt C4 brought up something and it has jogged an idea loose. The recent dustup about retired officers in relation to this working with the media instead of against it or blaming it? I dunno. I understand why Sec Geren said the mil should take a more collaborative rather than antagonistic approach with the media, but it just seems an errand doomed to fail. BUt then, a lot of the kids he talked to are smarter than me so just 'cause I can't see the way doesn't mean they won't. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72458 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72458 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:30:43 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-04-24 I was wondering if anyone was going to jump in on anything in this piece. At the same time, #4, we can't just ignore them and hope they'll go away. Hence, why the Services are, with varying degrees of understanding and success, trying to find other info pathways to disseminate their info. But until the Dinosaurs actually fall, you have to be cognizant of them. And they still reach, and influence, a far greater number of citizens than the blogs do. Blogs are a very inefficient way to gather information, if a surprisingly useful one for disseminating it, if what you wish is goodness in Google. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72457 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72457 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:16:44 -0600 Comment from Cannoneer No. 4 on 2008-04-24 We must embrace the media and it work for our Army. Explain to me how that differs from If you can't beat'em, join 'em. Trying to ingratiate the military with the journos and chattering classes by feeding their megalomaniacal pretensions of being more than content providers in a scheme to sell advertising in the hopes that they will less enthusiastically channel As Sahab evokes unwelcome homoerotic images of vaseline and kneepads. The prospect is a very stark one for people who work in, write, and edit newspapers. For these people do not think of themselves as “content providers.” They think much more highly of themselves than that. They believe they play a vital role, perhaps the most vital role, in the defense of the freedoms of every citizen. After all, who else is there to keep a vigilant watch over the official custodians of society? Who else is there to protect the people from the depredations of business and government? Is not freedom of speech—the very freedom that enables journalists to ply their trade—the first of our freedoms, primus inter pares, and who will guard it if not they? -- John Podhoretz The MSM's power is eroding. Why would anybody who has been so abused by that power wish to prop it up? Stockholm syndrome. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72455 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/the_secretary_o.html#comment-72455 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:12:32 -0600