The truth at any cost lowers all other costs — curated by former US spy Robert David Steele.
Huh? Weighing the Brass New York Times, 5 November 2013 One of the hardest-hit areas being discussed in federal budget talks is the Pentagon, which would take an automatic $20 billion cut in January under sequestration. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel proposed a 20 percent cut in his own office’s budget, but command headquarters around …
From Politico Morning Defense: FIRST LOOK – THE STRONG-ON-DEFENSE PLAYBOOK: A leading national-security think tank is releasing the latest edition of its annual briefing book, which has become a kind of playbook for strong-on-defense Democrats. The Truman National Security Project, which spent more than $90,000 during the 2012 presidential campaign to help defeat Republican Mitt …
I attach two-day old SECDEF estimates for Congress of what will happen if sequester continues into next fiscal year. Big idea: emphasis on RIFs of military and civilian personnel in preference to furloughs of DoD civilians. SECDEF doesn’t mention any specific numbers, but following would not surprise me: *Active Army military personnel: RIF of 70K …
Continue reading “Marcus Aurelius: Hagel Sacrifices People Instead of Systems Waste”
Huh? AP Exclusive: Air Force sidelines 17 nuclear missile officers; commander cites ‘rot’ in system WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel demanded more information Wednesday after the Air Force removed 17 launch officers from duty at a nuclear missile base in North Dakota over what a commander called “rot” in the force. The Air Force …
Daniel Wirls 4.0 out of 5 stars Second to Goodman’s More Recent Book, Useful Nuggets but Overlooks Key Critics, March 1, 2013 I bought this book after reading — and rating at 5 stars — Mel Goodman’s new book, National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism (Open Media). That is the better and more relevant …
Continue reading “Review: Irrational Security – The Politics of Defense from Reagan to Obama”
Add to this escalation of toxic leadership, particularly in Army, and senior leader incompetence [see Tom Ricks’ book, The Generals] and you get an unappealing prospect]. W/R/T Gen. Mattis specifically, his competence, integrity — and candor — are legendary. His summary characterization of U.S. Marine is classic: “no better friend, no worse enemy.” I’ve heard Mackubin Owens …
For the record. Bloomberg Businessweek, February 18, 2013, Pg. 29 Charlie Rose Talks To Dick Cheney ‘The damage we’re doing to the Defense Department is enormous’ By Charlie Rose Someone said to me that, since you received your heart transplant last year, you’re a new man. That you’re mellow, less strident. Is this true? My …
