Where is Sam Damon?

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63331948790358897722012-01-24T14:58:33.752-05:00Where is Sam Damon?Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.comBlogger5061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-26607182766687162692012-01-24T14:58:00.000-05:002012-01-24T14:58:33.757-05:00Goodbye, HMMWV

Army Kills Humvee Upgrade Program; Shifts Dollars To JLTV

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-69056556731807002882012-01-13T10:46:00.001-05:002012-01-13T10:50:16.627-05:00"I used to like driving..."

Back From War, Fear and Danger Fill Driver’s Seat I don't know one veteran that doesn't experience some kind of hyper-vigilance when certain things are observed while driving. Even if you don't notice it as a civilian, most veterans take notice of boxes and trash, potholes, dead animals, and anything hanging on a bridge that crosses the road they are driving under... because that is where IEDs

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-67787911155567743922012-01-07T13:45:00.001-05:002012-01-07T13:45:54.315-05:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-82138253911963494032011-12-21T10:34:00.002-05:002011-12-21T10:34:26.506-05:00

Eight U.S. Soldiers Charged In Death of Fellow Soldier This is absolutely disgusting. As Attackerman points out, "five of those charged are sergeants in the company. One of them is a lieutenant — Chen’s own platoon leader." What kind of officers and NCOs are we producing? It sounds like more than a little ribbing was going on here. The worst part about this is his company leadership allowed

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-66335144389556720462011-12-20T17:27:00.000-05:002011-12-20T18:15:51.940-05:00

Infographic: U.S. ends Iraq war chapter

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-3375939099971192682011-12-20T16:11:00.001-05:002011-12-20T16:11:43.851-05:00General Dynamics completes acquisition of Force Protection

General Dynamics doubles down on blast-resistant military vehicles MRAPs are the type of technology that is needed in Afghanistan to save lives; hopefully this merger will allow General Dynamics to produce them quickly and cheaply. Well at least produce them cheaper than the F-35, which shouldn't be too hard... compared to the Joint Strike Fighter program, MRAP is cheap. "The FY 2012 Overseas

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-8394567036434681252011-12-20T11:44:00.000-05:002011-12-20T16:12:13.266-05:00Japan orders Joint Strike Fighters and Lockheed Martin applauds

Pentagon hails Japan's F-35 order Sure, now that we have spent all of our money on R&D for this unneeded new stealth jet fighter, let's just share it with the entire world! During FY2011, we spent $11.4 Billion on the Joint Strike Fighter and it still is not complete and has many problems with it. Again, when is the next war, in which we will need such advanced technology and participate in

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-70979107371890881762011-12-20T11:19:00.001-05:002011-12-20T11:24:08.871-05:00Kim Jong-un, the "Young General" becomes the "Great Successor"

This piece is a must watch episode of "Inside Story" from Al Jazeera: Little is known about the man slated to succeed Kim Jong-il but few think the transition of power will be smooth.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-35971100707782738682011-12-18T21:56:00.003-05:002011-12-18T21:57:21.720-05:00Visa program for Iraqis mired in red tape

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-20264783149063707272011-12-17T15:11:00.001-05:002011-12-17T15:12:49.063-05:00The Iraq War Ends

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-53541868853214477432011-12-16T11:28:00.005-05:002011-12-16T11:29:35.893-05:00

The American soldier dubbed the 'Lawrence of Iraq'

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-58872266136050338572011-12-15T20:32:00.001-05:002011-12-16T11:29:09.738-05:00How Travis Patriquin shaped the Iraq War

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-29758827949440260292011-12-14T13:41:00.001-05:002011-12-20T11:51:16.709-05:00More Costly Technological and Performance Problems with the Joint Strike Fighter

More problems with F-35 joint strike fighter are revealed With all of the problems this expensive project has had, the only reason this project is still being allowed to go forward is: 1. R&D money, and 2. "Lockheed has 6,100 people working directly on the F-35 program in Fort Worth. About 3,000 are production workers, and the rest are in development and support. Without increased production

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-64703373497485473622011-12-13T10:43:00.000-05:002011-12-13T10:44:21.949-05:00In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb...

Obama affirms US commitment to Iraq: President says US troops will leave behind a self-reliant Iraq, but warns neighbours not to meddle in country's affairs. As I've said before - New Shiite Alliance Excludes Iraqi Prime Minister - I think the Iraqi Shiite link to Iran has been overblown. We will soon find out who is correct and whether or not Iran truly does want a major role in Iraq and

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-11537106552929039212011-12-11T17:51:00.001-05:002011-12-20T12:14:55.460-05:00Counter-IED Research and Development to be cut?

Pentagon Program to Limit the Threat of Roadside Bombs Faces Budget Cut This is one R&D project that should not be cut from the DoD budget. The threats from IEDs are not going away... It is quite sad that R&D needed in today's operations is cut, but unproven and expensive R&D designed for warfare generations down the road is kept. Lawmakers claim that "lack of coordination” with some

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-3870004636706313632011-12-07T12:01:00.004-05:002011-12-21T16:09:24.578-05:00On Defense, Silver Linings, Golden Opportunities

RMA is back? This discussion should have never been backburnered... here is a quote from the article (commentary after): Missing, so far, from the conversation that most of the American public has been exposed to is this question: What should the United States military be asked to accomplish in the first half of the 21st century, and is the awesome force slogging away in Iraq, Afghanistan, and,

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-79871945097648390092011-12-04T14:27:00.002-05:002011-12-21T16:08:26.040-05:00Cool on Honor: Sadism, Cruelty, and Character Development at West Point

I'm so lucky to have been brought up in Georgetown Army ROTC. This certainly didn't happen there and, in my opinion, our program molded some of the best officers of my generation. This article deals with how "cadetland" actually works in some places. Even coming from my ROTC program, I was shocked that "cadetland" was really a fantasy land different from the real Army... I could only imagine

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-65934001511586921952011-11-28T10:48:00.001-05:002011-12-21T16:07:08.046-05:00Boeing may exceed aerial tanker cost ceiling by $500 Million

Does this surprise anyone?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-35196666785808858792011-11-14T21:42:00.001-05:002011-11-14T21:42:37.357-05:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-21000207669118843582011-11-03T11:28:00.008-04:002011-12-21T16:06:41.458-05:00Budget cuts will mean troop cuts, chiefs say

Boy do I miss Secretary Gates (pbuh)... I've said this a million times, but we need to focus on the current conflicts (and end them and not get into any more of them unless our national survival is imminently at risk) and keep personnel, while cutting R&D spending. We don't need "a leap ahead" defense policy. "Steady as you go" is all we need right now. We don't need to support an entire

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-55102988337918692762011-10-31T10:40:00.002-04:002011-12-06T09:50:42.454-05:00The End of the American era?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-78749976811140733932011-10-05T17:30:00.003-04:002011-12-21T16:06:07.643-05:00Panetta Exhorts European NATO Members to Share Defense Spending

I think that the alliance is already hollow... By some measures, he said, European defense spending had dropped 2 percent a year for the last decade while Europeans were engaged in Kosovo, Libya and Afghanistan, meaning that the savings had come from budgets for modernization. At the least, he said, NATO members must coordinate spending cuts so that their allies are not surprised. “We are at

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-32165746040063661252011-10-05T13:28:00.002-04:002011-12-21T16:04:56.364-05:00Rep. Frank: Keeping troops in Iraq past withdrawal date ‘totally unacceptable’

I can't do much more than to quote from what Rep. Frank said. I think he hit the nail on the head: “The biggest single chunk of deficit reduction must come from scaling back our enormous military expenditures from where they now are to where our legitimate needs are,” Frank said. “There is no way at all to do a socially responsible deficit-reduction plan — no way to do a long-term deficit

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-17977494063116267142011-10-04T19:54:00.007-04:002011-12-21T16:04:23.732-05:00Republican hawks use sharp rhetoric to fight deeper Pentagon budget cuts

They should cut weapons programs first, not end-strength. This is utter idiocy. Instead, politicians will keep the weapons programs because they are beholden to the defense industrial complex and their donations. It takes years for us to build effective combat leaders... the military should be about people, not weapons systems. Given the 10-year strain on our already combat weary force if we

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-46406621496264487122011-09-27T00:02:00.000-04:002011-12-21T16:03:30.646-05:00For-Profit Colleges, Vulnerable G.I.s

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-44073940954839747662011-09-26T17:46:00.001-04:002011-12-21T16:03:08.413-05:00Navy spearheads clean-energy drive

But the Navy secretary said he is more focused on the fact that a Marine is either wounded or killed for every 50 convoys of fuel brought into Afghanistan than on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-2617993332397971422011-09-23T00:02:00.004-04:002011-12-21T16:02:41.420-05:00Concern raised about meds and PTSD in vets

Same old problems it seems... See also: The Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Effexor, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, Restoril, Xanax, Adderall, Ritalin, Haldol, Risperdal... WAR America's Medicated Army

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-77354802484356397542011-09-22T17:09:00.002-04:002011-12-21T16:02:07.566-05:00Defense cuts could lead to military draft, House Armed Services chairman says

I seriously doubt this will happen, but it would end the wars pretty quickly if you ask me. Suddenly people would care a little more because they could have some skin in the game... e.g. their children.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-3875892792593612762011-09-22T16:16:00.002-04:002011-12-05T08:45:26.048-05:00The New Greatest Generation

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-81235452252933602422011-09-22T15:53:00.002-04:002011-12-21T16:01:22.186-05:00Defense Dept. needs to change spending culture

This is something that I have been talking about for over three years on this blog. Unfortunately when he ran for president in 2008, Sen. McCain didn't describe the DoD culture as a "culture that has allowed massive waste of taxpayers’ dollars," as he did last Tuesday during a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-5948886133619515812011-09-19T00:02:00.000-04:002011-09-19T00:02:00.627-04:00The Dead, the Dollars, the Drones: 9/11 Era by the Numbers

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-20274475322012533002011-09-18T16:45:00.004-04:002011-12-21T16:00:26.487-05:00Defense spending must have credit limits

Pace at the hearing put forward a stunning fact we should remember: “Less than 1 percent of the nation has been defending the other 99 percent for 10 years.” McKeon on Monday picked up that thought with a slightly different twist: Since Sept. 11, 2001, he said, “the majority of Americans have lived without being touched by the horrors of conflict. We are at the mall while Marines are in the mud.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-37800530315510466332011-09-18T16:40:00.002-04:002011-12-21T15:59:03.685-05:00Sikorsky Grew With America's Two Long Wars

At least Blackhawks are used in the current wars... the majority of the R&D money the Air Force hands out surely isn't.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-82861305888513652862011-09-18T16:07:00.003-04:002011-12-21T15:58:40.542-05:0028 Potential Suicides in August

One more reason why endless war is not a good idea.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-27385375933297077622011-09-07T00:02:00.001-04:002011-12-21T15:58:16.993-05:00“For the Taliban, Islam is about propaganda... For us, it’s about faith.”

In recent years, the army has recruited 50 men known as hafiz — those who have memorized the Koran — in addition to dozens of clerics. Those officials work to ensure that Islamic law is observed within the ranks and that the intensity of the war doesn’t overwhelm soldiers’ religious obligations. The army’s cadre of spiritual leaders, most of whom carry religious texts, not weapons, are also

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-70581202579405561012011-09-06T16:25:00.002-04:002011-12-21T15:57:48.430-05:00U.S. to drop troop levels to 3,000 in Iraq

It is about time. If we limit our mission there to training only, then I believe they will get the picture: that they are in charge of their own destiny.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-54067737542300597912011-09-06T00:11:00.013-04:002011-12-21T15:57:03.970-05:00In Iraq, a new breed of returning exile

What are we going to do? Turkey is in NATO and hates the Kurds, yet the Kurds have been our most consistent ally in Iraq. After the U.S. invasion in 2003, Kurds who had been expelled by Hussein and replaced by Arab families returned by the thousands, hoping to reclaim their lost homes. Disputes over land rights are common, and many are still homeless. Soldiers from all three ethnic groups help

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-18611901120693123532011-09-05T23:50:00.006-04:002011-12-21T15:57:25.050-05:00Americans live in an era of endless war

War should not be normal. It should be an aberration, a black mark on the world, something that is rare and exemplifies the complete breakdown of how a society should solve problems. However, for Americans, it is not. The long stretch of war has also isolated the U.S. military from society. Senior Army officials worry that career soldiers have forgotten how to take care of their troops outside

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-61358668246617795442011-08-29T09:00:00.010-04:002011-12-21T15:55:50.974-05:00Kucinich: Libyan foray represents ‘new international gangsterism’

The War Powers Act should not be violated. Period. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said the five-month-old intervention — now being led by NATO — sets a dangerous precedent for unilateral attacks on sovereign nations. He said Western forces “illegally” picked favorites in Libya’s civil war, and he called on the International Criminal Court to investigate potential war crimes by military leaders

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-14953693856744824052011-08-29T08:41:00.004-04:002011-08-29T08:58:15.666-04:00Suicide Bomb Kills Dozens In Baghdad's Largest Sunni Mosque

Hopefully, we aren't going to be in Iraq for this edition of the Sunni-Shiite Civil War... See previous posts: Violence highlights fears of Iraqi security forces taking over after U.S. leaves Shiites in Iraq Show Restraint as Sunnis Keep Attacking Shiite Control Raises Tensions with Sunni Groups For U.S. and Sunni Allies, a Turning Point

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-20182498828007977762011-08-24T00:02:00.000-04:002011-08-24T00:02:00.643-04:00On the home front, reminders of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq come in small doses

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-87179173838289635302011-08-23T00:02:00.000-04:002011-12-21T15:54:29.562-05:00Why the United States will lose a Cyber War

Unfortunately for Western nations, synchronicity has its origins in the East. Western nations have a tradition in causality, not synchronicity. And the U.S. Defense Department is deeply grounded in traditional western thinking and practicality. The decision to call cyberspace a domain was based on organizational necessity. That’s how the Defence Department is set up. It’s how budgets are created

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-81382058076574494212011-08-22T09:59:00.002-04:002011-12-21T15:53:39.529-05:00Does Debt Bill ‘Gut’ Military?

This is an easy answer: No.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-90848921214133197972011-08-22T00:02:00.000-04:002011-12-21T15:53:16.840-05:00Want to cut big government abuses? Start with defense contracting

One US government contractor, Anham, is making millions off the Iraq war, allegedly charging US taxpayers $4,500 for a circuit breaker that costs only $183 at an appliance store, $3,000 for a separate circuit breaker that costs $94, and $900 for a control switch that costs $7. The contractor has issued a statement denying the charges of overbilling; the issue, in any case, is not limited to one

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-80335433419245640072011-08-21T00:02:00.000-04:002011-12-21T15:52:51.467-05:00America's sentimental regard for the military

The military is can-do, the one institution — certainly the one public institution — that still appears to work. The schools, the highways, the post office; Amtrak, FEMA, NASA and the T.S.A. — not to mention the banks, the newspapers, the health care system, and above all, Congress: nothing seems to function anymore, except the armed forces. They’re like our national football team — and

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-29106237003760204372011-08-20T23:07:00.001-04:002011-12-21T16:12:48.865-05:00Britain's last war?

Since the Cold War’s end, the combined GDP of NATO’s European members has grown 55 percent, yet their defense spending has declined almost 20 percent. Twenty years ago, those nations provided 33 percent of the alliance’s defense spending; today, they provide 21 percent. This is why Robert Gates, before resigning as US defense secretary, warned that unless Europe’s disarmament is reversed,

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-38291556050960443332011-08-20T22:19:00.002-04:002011-08-20T22:19:51.995-04:00Wanted: A good job and some understanding

Spectacular article. Sums up exactly the way I felt when I left active duty.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-39031854892137002122011-08-12T09:26:00.001-04:002011-08-12T09:28:28.206-04:00Pentagon loses its hypersonic jet on test

How much does this program cost? Don't we have first-strike capability with nuclear submarines?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-41981419472932998232011-06-08T10:44:00.004-04:002011-12-21T15:50:56.997-05:00Iraq's Chalabi, who sought invasion, now wants U.S. out

Thank you, McClatchy, for continuing to cover Iraq. Remember, since combat operations in Iraq have been declared over there have been 36 U.S. servicemembers killed. Also, thanks for nothing, Mr. Chalabi, for lying to us in 2002-2003 and helping us decide to invade Iraq in 2003. Here is a quote from the article: Still, there is, if nothing else, an irony in Chalabi's avowed opposition to asking

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-22448933672132087422011-05-30T11:19:00.001-04:002011-05-30T11:19:54.105-04:00Happy Memorial Day

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-14289625726603571482011-05-30T11:17:00.002-04:002011-05-30T11:18:46.365-04:00GEN Dempsey to CJCS; GEN Odierno to Army Chief of Staff

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-52933849782788189822011-05-24T09:12:00.002-04:002011-05-24T09:14:43.827-04:00DADT: A young, gay officer witnesses its end

This is going to be a must read blog. I hope the implementation of this policy goes better than the implementation of other policies...

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-4659130035268398702011-05-17T09:58:00.004-04:002011-12-21T15:51:42.612-05:00Strain on forces in the field at a five-year high

A quote from the article: "We're an Army that's in uncharted territory here," says Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, who has focused on combat stress. "We have never fought for this long with an all-volunteer force that's 1% of the population." Mental health strain was most severe among veterans of three or more deployments, with a third of those showing signs of psychological

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-61058492822376372582011-05-16T10:43:00.018-04:002011-05-16T17:00:51.065-04:00Challenges await GEN Dempsey

GEN Dempsey needs to fight with the Obama administration to keep the end-strength of the Army at its current levels. Remember GEN(R) Shinseki's warning of fighting two wars without enough troops in 2003? He has been proven correct. The 1:1 deployment cycle - one year deployed, one year "at home" (which ends up being 6 months because you are in the field for 6 months) - has proven debilitating.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-30509670878494982952011-05-11T18:45:00.001-04:002011-05-16T11:14:06.925-04:00IED Attacks in Afghanistan

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-72694238010917050182011-05-05T08:25:00.004-04:002011-05-05T08:35:17.546-04:00Division in Iraqi Kurdistan

But Kurdistanis between the ages of 15 and 30 -- approximately 40% of the population -- grew up in an already semi-autonomous Kurdistan. Most of them only heard about the struggle against the former regime from their parents and grandparents.They did, however, witness the armed struggle for power between the KDP and the PUK from 1994 to 1997, and have lived under two-party rule that dominates

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-7662318957044829662011-05-03T10:40:00.002-04:002011-05-05T14:38:08.484-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-77667087085988671812011-05-02T11:13:00.005-04:002011-05-02T11:25:21.739-04:00Careful preparation, rather than expensive weapons, took out Osama Bin Laden

Emotionally, the Bush administration—and the country—felt the need for a major military response after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But although Iraq may still come right in the end, was it the best use of our money and resources? Afghanistan may eventually become stable—but haven't we just learned, if we didn't know it already, that the real and more complicated threat

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-13581701407564328342011-05-02T00:05:00.000-04:002011-05-02T00:06:19.383-04:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-37202774539703046402011-05-01T00:02:00.002-04:002011-05-01T00:02:01.001-04:00How the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan

Throughout the occupation, Soviet leaders launched a series of initiatives aimed at helping their Afghan allies stand on their own feet — to gain domestic and international legitimacy and to develop the wherewithal to fight off insurgent campaigns. This would in turn allow the Soviets to withdraw honorably. Each effort was announced with great fanfare, implemented and eventually found

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-16119434204917759982011-04-30T09:21:00.007-04:002011-04-30T17:06:44.101-04:00Vickers

What a remarkable career. At least now I know who the smart former Green Beret from Charlie Wilson's War is...

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-17857831572029358022011-04-29T08:42:00.005-04:002011-04-29T09:12:34.422-04:00A new national security team

Here are some quick comments on the national security moves:It appears clear to me that Ryan Crocker will be an upgrade over Karl Eikenberry as ambassador to Afghanistan.As to the other moves, in my mind, Secretary Gates is the finest Secretary of Defense in our history. Mr. Panetta, although talented, probably won't come close to Secretary Gates. Secretary Gates has been fighting the DoD

0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-67128058745795302612011-04-21T12:29:00.002-04:002011-04-21T12:32:49.853-04:00President Obama's Defense Cuts

I still think that the last thing that should be cut from the DoD budget is manpower. It takes years to build. We can quickly build more planes, bombs, and tanks, but we can't quickly build up end-strength. Unfortunately, both Secretary Gates, who I agree with frequently, and President Obama, feel otherwise. We have a force that is tired and weary; cutting 40,000 of them will only make them more

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-72539071568882774122011-04-21T00:02:00.000-04:002011-04-21T00:02:01.154-04:00Stigma of PTSD is costing U.S. lives

I couldn't agree with this op-ed more.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-49611118445497913672011-04-20T08:04:00.002-04:002011-05-01T14:58:25.287-04:00Army chief of staff visits Soldiers in Iraq

"We're promoting 95 to 98 percent of captains to major, 93 or 95 percent of majors to lieutenant colonel," said Martin. "We're not really separating out the true high performers that we should aspire to have. We shouldn't be satisfied that 98 percent of captains are being promoted to major, because 98 percent of captains don't deserve to be promoted to major. Statistically, that's an infeasible

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-44346257987069812822011-04-10T16:30:00.004-04:002011-04-10T16:34:23.437-04:00GEN Petraeus to CIA Director?

I don't quite understand this one... if GEN Petraeus ultimately wants the job of Secretary of Defense, why not just give it to him it when Secretary Gates (pbuh) resigns? Maybe his peer flag officers wouldn't like that? Boo hoo hoo.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-35991370196335656592011-04-09T14:54:00.001-04:002011-04-10T16:35:05.707-04:00Clay Hunt

"He thought the world was supposed to be a better place than it is, and he lived every day of his life thinking, perhaps naively, that his efforts could make the world be what he thought it should be," Wood said.When Hunt woke up every day and his efforts seemed in vain, that made him more depressed, Wood said.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-55488627606505558822011-03-29T22:21:00.002-04:002011-03-29T22:23:33.964-04:00Wars Emerge as 2012 Issue

How can THREE wars NOT be an issue during an election? I guess it is conceivable when less than one percent of the population - the battle slaves - are fighting them.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-67138437586787660652011-03-21T09:44:00.001-04:002011-03-21T09:45:25.277-04:00GEN Carter Ham

I'm happy to see that he could seek help. The question is can lower ranking Officers and NCOs successfully do the same and keep their careers?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-19488334421354716262011-03-16T21:28:00.003-04:002011-03-16T21:31:55.353-04:00Best and Brightest

One would think that the Army should do everything in its power to keep the best and brightest in its Officer Corps, but apparently we can settle for the "less-than best and brightest," to use GEN Kroesen's words, and do an ok job. I'm sure that is exactly what the FORTUNE 100 companies and top law firms think of losing hot-shot associates, right? No. We need to view losing such talent as a

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-68499094134538579962011-02-08T09:12:00.002-05:002011-02-08T09:14:29.052-05:00The Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Effexor, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, Restoril, Xanax, Adderall, Ritalin, Haldol, Risperdal... WAR

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-89057830087888888272011-01-31T08:20:00.001-05:002011-01-31T08:23:12.676-05:00Who Is Omar Suleiman?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-15027919112095901822011-01-25T08:08:00.001-05:002011-01-25T08:09:56.185-05:00Pilgrim's Progress

Amazing piece...

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-29964339527907071312011-01-23T15:51:00.005-05:002011-01-23T15:59:58.131-05:00Discrepancy in religious beliefs of troops, chaplains

This is a serious problem in the military today. One of the things that was especially annoying were the prayer breakfasts that every commander basically had to attend if the brigade commander was an evangelical Christian. It is quite sad that the Chaplain Corps does not mirror the makeup of the military today.I also think it is awful that many mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-3924959101358110752011-01-08T18:58:00.002-05:002011-01-08T19:01:05.659-05:00Guess who's back

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-31252231180544494212011-01-05T19:44:00.001-05:002011-01-05T19:45:40.697-05:00How to cut $1 trillion from the Pentagon

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-3417423726186970382011-01-03T20:24:00.001-05:002011-01-03T20:26:36.818-05:00Demise of Iraqi water park illustrates limitations, abuse of U.S. funding program

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-48191403805130876012011-01-02T11:08:00.003-05:002011-01-02T11:12:14.785-05:00In large numbers, and with few rules, retiring generals are taking lucrative defense-firm jobs

This is something I have been harping about for more than two years on this blog...

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-7782714556779010882011-01-02T10:36:00.002-05:002011-01-02T10:40:59.611-05:00With Air Force's new drone, 'we can see everything'

This seems like very promising technology. It is funny how the AF is already framing its argument about how important they are and that ground troops won't be needed as much. It sounds very similiar to their "air power" argument at the end of WWII and during the Cold War arguing that bombing alone can win wars.The Air Force placed a contractor on the set of a reality TV show to learn how to

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-67215408025583999422011-01-02T10:23:00.000-05:002011-01-02T10:24:24.796-05:00Time for ROTC's return

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-87846876312104658252010-12-30T16:32:00.002-05:002010-12-30T16:35:23.028-05:00Veterans of recent wars confront grim employment landscape

Sad article. It shows how detached society is from the military. Whereas after World War II veterans returned and their leadership, coolness under pressure, and skills were valued, now even journalists portray the myth that veterans don't know how to do anything except shoot guns. Sad.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-61377678815018303802010-12-29T09:53:00.004-05:002010-12-29T10:01:10.703-05:00Army edits its history of the deadly battle of Wanat

Of course! It must have been the 24-year-old platoon leader's fault! Nevermind the glossing over of the fact that the senior commanders, who undoubtedly were sipping coffee in the tactical operations center during the engagement, had a "weak grasp of the area's complicated politics, causing them to underestimate the hostility to a U.S. presence in Wanat." It must have been the dead platoon

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-43918847168059702262010-12-26T11:48:00.001-05:002010-12-26T11:50:04.386-05:00The Big (Military) Taboo

Excellent op-ed.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-89304537175978734062010-12-23T13:16:00.000-05:002010-12-23T13:17:10.829-05:00A Remembrance of Richard Holbrooke

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-48095666170504044432010-12-22T07:15:00.002-05:002010-12-22T07:17:08.506-05:00Colleges Rethink ROTC

Why don't they just come out and say that they are over-educated cowards that just want to be filthy rich armchair generals one day?

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-10145170585387283272010-12-20T13:19:00.000-05:002010-12-20T13:20:18.105-05:00Life and Death Decisions Weigh on Junior Officers

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-24530741879084484862010-12-20T02:28:00.000-05:002010-12-20T02:29:23.437-05:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-31546355151450064502010-12-17T09:33:00.001-05:002010-12-17T09:35:04.078-05:00Second Engine

Gotta love Congress for insisting on a second engine the Pentagon does not even want.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-69892965324567634702010-11-25T09:06:00.002-05:002010-11-25T09:10:44.027-05:00Super-Silent Jimmy Carter Ready to Spy on North Korea

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-13079820731298423672010-11-20T12:32:00.000-05:002010-11-20T12:33:30.259-05:00U.S. deploying heavily armored battle tanks for first time in Afghan war

Break out those tanker boots...

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-59124440147274430442010-11-16T07:45:00.002-05:002010-11-16T07:49:49.045-05:00China

When linked together, these two articles explain some of the developments coming out of China:US seeks to expand military presence in Asia Chinese Missiles Could Close U.S. Bases in Attack, Report Says

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-81302126651931715452010-10-31T21:01:00.002-04:002010-10-31T21:03:50.214-04:00An open letter to the Tea Party

If you want to find rage-inspiring examples of government spending, there is no better place to look than the military budget. Here are some examples that should raise the blood pressure of any self-respecting Tea Partier:The US has over 100 military bases in Germany alone. These bases may have made sense when we feared a Soviet attack on Western Europe, but the Cold War ended 20 years ago. Why

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-61342368175170600252010-09-26T10:09:00.004-04:002011-05-02T22:06:34.214-04:00Veterans Failing Shows Hazards of For-Profit Schools in GI Bill

These colleges prey on military personnel while they are in the military, plant their seed about how "reputable" they are, and then continue to prey on them once they leave. There needs to be a certification process for these "colleges" and they need to be heavily regulated. The goal of the new G.I. Bill is to help servicemembers transition to civilian life with new skills, and in doing so,

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-49785853008918203452010-09-26T09:43:00.002-04:002010-09-26T09:54:04.686-04:00Gates: The Pentagon's accountability cop

Too bad he is one of the few accountability cops. I think back to Mario Cuomo's speech in the 1984 Democratic National Convention often. To paraphrase he spoke about President Reagan giving tax breaks to millionaires and buying missiles we couldn't afford. If we are going to cut spending, both parties need to dismantle the military industrial complex as we know it. Not on the personnel front,

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-67789767444880239072010-09-25T23:24:00.001-04:002010-09-25T23:24:54.625-04:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-33908571063130644672010-09-12T18:00:00.001-04:002010-09-12T18:01:48.230-04:00They served and came home(less)

This is how we treat our war veterans. So sad.

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-20629651922102950942010-09-04T08:10:00.001-04:002010-09-04T08:12:05.476-04:00"Combat in Iraq is not over," says memo from the AP's standards editor

To begin with, combat in Iraq is not over, and we should not uncritically repeat suggestions that it is, even if they come from senior officials. The situation on the ground in Iraq is no different today than it has been for some months. Iraqi security forces are still fighting Sunni and al-Qaida insurgents. Many Iraqis remain very concerned for their country's future despite a dramatic

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-50121834917689613962010-09-03T20:11:00.001-04:002010-09-03T21:09:33.259-04:00A new dawn for State

State’s new missions require it to perform an array of tasks the military conducted prior to now. The two causing the most concern: State’s ability to train the Iraqi police and to keep its own people safe. U.S. Foreign Service officers worry aloud about the security issue, fearing that without proper security they will be unable to do their jobs in the field. They could become the new “FOBbits”

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-75069911969850067142010-08-31T23:08:00.000-04:002010-08-31T23:09:10.084-04:00

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333194879035889772.post-33740551098647538612010-08-30T17:25:00.003-04:002010-08-30T17:41:07.381-04:00Billions wasted in rebuilding of Iraq

This article details the epitome of wasteful spending by the Department of Defense. With officers that have no business or budgeting experience and strive for that golden bullet on their OER or deployment medals that says something to the effect of, "successfully planned, budgeted for, and supervised the construction of [fill in pet project here] in his sector during combat operations

Onagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553157912623671149noreply@blogger.com0