The truth at any cost lowers all other costs — curated by former US spy Robert David Steele.
A Decision on the Palantir US Army Dust Up Looms
Palantir Technologies like many Silicon Valley-type firms, takes its inspiration from logical reasoning (our software is great, therefore, the US Army should use it, not DCGS which is not great), Google methods (do not ask permission, apologize later), venture capital infused advisors (we are the masters of the universe), or Larry the Cable guy (git ‘er done).
Continue reading “Stephen E. Arnold: Palantir's Last Stand…”
The Revolutionary Distemper in Syria That Wasn’t
Documents prepared by US Congress researchers in 2005 revealed that the US government was actively weighing regime change in Syria long before the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, challenging the view that US support for the Syrian rebels was based on allegiance to a “democratic uprising” and showing that it was simply an extension of a long-standing policy of seeking to topple the government in Damascus.
Huge U.S. Weapons Shipments To Saudi Arabia Prior to Yemen Funeral Attack
The United States shipped hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons to Saudi Arabia just weeks prior to the Saudi-led coalition’s funeral bombing in Sanaa, Yemen which killed 140 and wounded over 500.
Continue reading “Antechinus: Pay to Play in Syria and Yemen”
The fine print on the online order contract says curb side delivery but the lack of professionalism by both Home Depot and Estes Express and their “final mile” third party BEI Delivery of Sterling, VA, is palpable.The order was actually placed by a Home Depot person in Customer Service at the Fairfax store and the customer never read the fine print nor was informed that the delivery would be done by a third party sub-contractor rather than Home Depot drivers properly equipped with a forklift for such situations.
Here is a photo of a steel-wrapped pallet illegally blocking two official US postal boxes, one hundred feet downhill from where the pallet was supposed to be delivered.
We strongly recommend that Home Depot not be trusted for online deliveries of anything that cannot be hand carried. Appliances are delivered inside the house — garden bricks and other materials are delivered to the door. One has to wonder why Home Depot Online is so badly managed. Estes Express appears to be a family owned company with good intentions, but they are sub-contracting to third-rate local parties.
The third party acting on behalf of Home Depot and Estes Express was BEI Delivery of Sterling. The President and CEO of Estes Express has been provided all necessary information toward his finding a new provider in Northern Virginia.
Playing the Blues: A Professional Peacekeeping Force for an Age of Violent Extremism
Frank Hoffman & Ryan Neuhard
What is the solution? It is time for the United States to push for the creation of a standing U.N. Peacekeeping Force. This proposal offers three major advantages. First, it would reduce the need for national contingents from willing nations in high risk scenarios. Second, it would facilitate the professionalization of a force that specializes in complex contingencies and is trained, organized, and equipped for sustained peacekeeping missions. Reliance upon volunteers who are committed to the mission, prepared to comply with international law, and are dedicated to the expectation for protecting civilians and enforcing U.N. mandates would be a clear improvement. Third, the deployment of a dedicated force of professionals would eliminate the political repercussions now faced by national leaders when their units are attacked and sustain fatalities. Multinational units comprised of highly trained volunteers would minimize the risks faced by political leaders who would not be held accountable at the ballot box for casualties.
BA Insight and Its Ideas for Enterprise Search Success
I read “Success Factors for Enterprise Search.” The write up spells out a checklist to make certain that an enterprise search system delivers what the users want—on point answers to their business information needs. The reason a checklist is necessary after more than 50 years of enterprise search adventures is a disconnect between what software can deliver and what the licensee and the users expect. Imagine figuring out how to get across the Grand Canyon only to encounter the Iguazu Falls. . . . The reality is that even the most sophisticated search and content processing systems end up in trouble. Search remains a very difficult problem. Today’s solutions do a few things better than STAIRS III did. But in the end, search software crashes and burns when it has to:
DEFENDING U.S. FORCES AGAINST ENEMY DRONES
Enemy use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) is a growing threat to U.S. forces because of their low cost, versatility, and ease of use, according to a recent U.S. Army doctrinal publication. “The UAS is the most challenging and prevalent threat platform to combined arms forces and therefore, a logical choice for enemy use.” See Techniques for Combined Arms for Air Defense, Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-01.8, July 29, 2016.
As is the case with U.S.-operated drones, enemy UAS can be used to perform a range of functions from battlefield surveillance and targeting to precision strike, the Army document said. “The enemy will use UAS to fulfill multiple attack roles.” The drone may deliver a weapon or be used as a weapon itself. “As an indirect attack platform, the UAS has the ability to carry the improvised explosive device or become the improvised explosive device.” “Perhaps the most dangerous COA [course of action]… is the Swarm” in which “clusters of UAS” are used by an adversary simultaneously for surveillance, indirect attack and direct attack. What to do about this? The answer is not fully articulated in the Army manual.
Continue reading “Steve Aftergood: Defending Against (Swarm) Drones”
Below is the briefing that was given to General Eric Shinseki, USA, then Chief of Staff of the US Army, by the British Army. Bottom line: wheels are limited to roads and permissive environments; tracks are essential for all-weather operations and non-permissive environments.
PPT (19 Slides): FSCS/TRACER Wheels v. Tracks LTC Jakc Reiff DMP FSCS
