Archive for the 'Military Issues' Category
September 8th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
Ever since our military attacked Azizabad, Afghanistan on August 22nd, numerous groups including the United Nations and human rights organizations have claimed that up to 90 civilians were killed. Also since August 22nd, our military has disputed the number of civilian deaths instead claiming that no more than 7 might have died.
Finally yesterday the military admitted that the scores of witnesses and other evidence could mean that the higher civilian death toll might be accurate. While that thought is horrible, what makes it even worse is who they used to corroborate their initial denials, the one and only Fox News correspondent Oliver North.
The US military said that its findings were corroborated by an independent journalist embedded with the US force. He was named as the Fox News correspondent Oliver North, who came to prominence in the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, when he was an army colonel.
So we are being accused of killing almost 100 civilians during one of our military operations and we use the word of Iran Contra front man Ollie North for death toll corroboration?
June 5th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
Last week I wondered out loud about who was running the circus that is the nuclear weapons handling for the Air Force after an announced nuclear inspection at Minot Air Force Base failed miserably less than a year after the same base allowed nuclear tipped cruise missiles to fly across the country unnoticed.
Today we found out .
The Air Force’s senior civilian official and its highest-ranking general were ousted by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Thursday following an official inquiry into the mishandling of nuclear weapons and components, an episode that Mr. Gates called an indication of systemic problems in the Air Force.
The Air Force secretary, Michael W. Wynne, and the service’s chief of staff, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, were forced to resign after the inquiry found that the latest incident reflected “a pattern of poor performance” in securing sensitive military components, Mr. Gates said at a Pentagon briefing.
May 31st, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
You’re well known for losing control of 6 nukes last year when an airmen mistakenly loaded nuclear tipped cruise missiles onto a B-52 and flew them to La., where the plane sat on the flight line, unattended, for hours. Your commanding officer was fired for the screw up. And now you have been given notice well in advance that a major nuclear inspection was coming up. What do you do?
You fail miserably.
DRTA inspectors gave the wing an “unsatisfactory” grade Sunday after uncovering many crucial mistakes during the weeklong inspection, which began May 17. They attributed the errors primarily to lack of supervision and leadership among security forces.
Not only have you failed, your troops get caught playing video games while guarding the nukes!
Inspectors watched as a security forces airman played video games on his cell phone while standing guard at a “restricted area perimeter,” the DTRA report said. Meanwhile, another airman nearby was “unaware of her duties and responsibilities” during the exercise.
And it just wasn’t this one incident. The Air Force Times article also documents a veritable laundry list of breakdowns in the handling, documenting, and reporting that makes you really wonder who is running that outfit.
The incompetence would truly be funny if it wasn’t for what they were supposed to be guarding, you know, freakin’ NUCLEAR WEAPONS!
April 28th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
Warning if you have sensitive ears, salty words appear below
Just finished watching day 1 of 5 of the latest PBS documentary Carrier, and would recommend it to anyone that wants a taste of what it’s like to spend 6 months of your life deployed on a floating city. It actually brings back a few memories for me as it was filmed entirely on the USS Nimitz which was my home for over a year in the early 90’s.
For me it actually shows me just how much things have changed as it touches on the integration of women on board to which other than a few times we hosted reserve squadrons, was never an issue. It also reminds me of just how much things haven’t changed. A crew made up mainly of lower to middle class teenagers fresh out of high school that continue to prove the old adage that “a happy sailor is a bitchin’ sailor”.
If you can get past some of the political commentary slipped in by the film makers,
Q - Who is the Secretary of Defense?
A- Cunninglus Rice?,
the first 2 hours at least seemed to be an excellent portrayal of life on an aircraft carrier and It continues tonight through Thursday night on PBS at 8 CST.
April 25th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
John McCain will be making at least one appearance in South Dakota before November when he appears at the Buffalo Chip on the first day of the Sturgis Rally August 4th. The former POW will be participating in the Tribute to American Veterans and Active Duty Servicemen.
McCain, who never fails to remind us of his war hero past and his unwavering support for the troops is following in the footsteps of past guests including Patriot Guard Riders, the U.S. Army Golden Knights, B-1B fly-bys and numerous color guards and flag-folding ceremonies at the annual event.
And maybe while in the company of all those vets he can again explain why he doesn’t feel the government should provide them a significantly improved educational benefits program in return for their service in the form of an updated GI Bill.
The new GI Bill modernization legislation introduced over a year ago by Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) that would pay for the college for our vets has received bi-partisan support and has been co-signed by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton but the outspoken Vietnam vet is strangely reluctant to add his name to the bill. Why?
McCain has said he hasn’t had time to read the bill and isn’t sure if he could support it.
Nothing but the best for our vets ain’t that right John…
April 10th, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
Though I don’t believe that all the bondo in the world will help much considering what is left of this B2 bomber that crashed in Guam recently. Both pilots ejected safely but the plane is a $1.2 billion pile of junk.
(h/t - Gizmodo)
January 23rd, 2008 by Bob Schwartz
You would think that government loans owed by US serviceman killed in the line of duty would be forgiven, at least my version of common sense would have assumed that to be true. But believe it or not, the VA has been trying to collect money from the estates of these fallen soldiers and though rare, they have gone after and collected over $56,000 from the families of 22 soldiers who died in the line of duty owing mainly GI Bill over-payments.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has introduced a bill (S 2536) that would relieve any VA owed debts, and if passed would be retroactive to Sept 11th, 2001 so that those already harassed by the VA in collection attempts will receive refunds. The bill seems to have bi-partisan support including from VA Secretary Dr. James Peake, so hopefully it will pass without problems but how would you like to be the guy from the VA that is tasked with calling family members of fallen soldiers and have to ask them to pay back these loans?
This proposal, while definitely long overdue, seems to be incomplete as it lacks any mention of debts owed to other government agencies such as the IRS. Why this obvious omission? I hope that during the debate process our legislators do the right thing and ensure that all government debts get forgiven, it is the right thing to do. After all haven’t these individuals payed back any debts owed to Uncle Sam in spades already?
November 11th, 2007 by Bob Schwartz
Considering the world we live in and the sacrifices our military members are making on a daily basis, Veterans Day has special meaning for most including myself. So in honor of those that have served and who still serve, I thank you!
And carrying on this blog’s on again off again tradition of photo blogging on my travels during my own time in the military, I have posted a picture of one of the more dangerous maneuvers done at sea. The above is a picture of the beginning of refueling operations at sea as the Kitty Hawk is coming into position with an oiler. Even Hummer drivers would surely be happy with their mileage when comparing it to a 90,000 ton aircraft carrier.
October 8th, 2006 by Bob Schwartz
The USS George H.W. Bush
Not that George Sr. was a bad president but how does a one term president who pretty much got elected on his former boss, Ronald Reagan’s coattails, and whose legacy includes doing only half the job in Iraq in 1991 and not much else rate getting one of the US’s most feared warships, a Nimitz class carrier, named after him?
What’s next the USS Jimmy Carter?
August 28th, 2006 by Bob Schwartz
After almost 2 years serving our country in Iraq, 150 members of the 220th Transportation Company from Massachusetts came home to a hero’s welcome which included an 18-20 hour bus ride from the demobilization ceremony in Indiana back to their homes in Massachusetts.
What a nice thank you from the fine folks at the Department of Defense!