This just might be the hot topic ‘2010 Health Care legislation’ discussion topic of the year. It will get even nastier than health care ever came close to.
Considering the volatility of the issue, this is bigger than a 7.0 Richter quake. These guys and gals are hard core and have been building toward this day for ten years or so. It just might get messy.
It makes zero difference where you stand on the issue; it is a fact of life as we now understand it. They are here among us in our everyday life. The live right in our neighborhoods and on our own street. The move in and they move out. They do their part and this can not be downplayed. You know they are out there.
They have been serving in the military for years. Just because ‘they don’t tell’ doesn’t mean ‘they don’t exist’.
The best guess right now is that there may have to be some pretty big heads at the Pentagon that will roll before this issue becomes even lukewarm. The top Jarhead will most likely be the first; look for it in the next two weeks. If it takes longer, I will be really surprised.
During my service in the Army, I sat on a Court that decided the fate of no less than thirty (30) individuals who had charges brought against them for this infraction – living their life as they saw it. It was interesting, to say the least – testimony, pictorial evidence and medical diagnosis, the whole nine yards, as they say.
Mark my words!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
CNN misleads with info from Haiti
Watching the updates of the earthquake and the support poring in on CNN just a few ago left me with some bitter tastes. I don’t believe the REAL story is getting out.
Just recently there was a report from the hospitals on supplies that were or were not there. The reporter, although a regular ‘medical reporter routinely on the network, had very little idea about the ‘information’ what she was trying to pass along. These guys, even those sitting right there where all this is happening, have so little idea about what they are telling us; it almost makes those that may even know just a little about how all this takes place want to scream.
Whether there is a US hospital set up yet or not is not the real story. It’s about the aid being provided. Why has the US not provided a hospital yet might be the question that needs to be asked by the stateside journalist? Just what is needed and where it is needed is the question to be asked by the journalist on the ground in Haiti.
Consider that the US is currently fighting two wars and another hospital is a bit harder to get to right now than it would be otherwise. The hospitals are there, you can bet on it. Where it is to come from is the question. Is it in the Army Reserves, the Air Force Reserves, or the War Reserves? The deeper they have to go to get to it, the longer it takes; obviously.
Before I forget this; the one thing we must all remember is that in a situation like this, it is the State Department that determines who goes in and where they go in. The exception to this is those US assets that are already under the direction of the United Nations. I spent many an hour on the tarmac at Fort Bragg, North Carolina while State made up their mind on just what the mission was to be and who//what would be the exact support package. I do not mean to cast dispersions here; it’s just a fact.
The supplies available addressed in the journalist’s piece were more disinformation than real information. She showed us a blood pressure cup supply that might be a real questionable piece as it seemed to be missing the cup; this is a small no matter of concern but not as major as what is actually there doing good. The open heart surgery kit was also displayed – OK. Maybe they aren’t doing open heart surgery there right now and may never do it; but these are all planned items that sometimes are appropriate and sometimes not. They are already in the pack and distributed as ‘guessed’. Nobody ahead of times knows exactly what is needed and to get the exact requirements takes far too long. A guess is made based on history and things start moving.
Besides the requirement to feed the hungry; the new requirement that comes along with a deployment of this nature is the need to feed the supporters: the US volunteers, the army, the navy, the air force, the foreigner volunteers, the PRESS CORPS, and the dignitaries just wanting to get face time in the area. All these need to be fed and nourished in order to continue to deliver the support they were sent there to provide.
The next wave of REAL requirements will probably be the on-site fuel situation. The distribution of Haitian fuel is most likely getting low and will soon have to be augmented. Dare say, the distribution of what fuel that is there is much hindered. The best of all situations is to resupply as much as possible out of the airfield assets. These assets will be heavily slanted to jet fuel and not ground fuel. I haven’t heard anything about the stationary assets at the airfield or anything about the remaining ability from the port area. But the ability to air-tanker (US Air Force) in fuel is always a real possibility and to store this fuel above ground in collapsible tanks (US Army) is quiet an easy task; State just has to levy the requirement. Again, the limiting factor may probably be the active assets available to do so. Then you go to Reserves and National Guard assets – takes a little longer, but not much – but this is why these support elements are in this status of readiness.
The PRESS CORPS plays us all for the newsworthy aspect and tends to depress us more than inform us. This is particularly true the longer the situation lasts. In this case, CNN has done us all a disservice. Take it from one who knows.
Just recently there was a report from the hospitals on supplies that were or were not there. The reporter, although a regular ‘medical reporter routinely on the network, had very little idea about the ‘information’ what she was trying to pass along. These guys, even those sitting right there where all this is happening, have so little idea about what they are telling us; it almost makes those that may even know just a little about how all this takes place want to scream.
Whether there is a US hospital set up yet or not is not the real story. It’s about the aid being provided. Why has the US not provided a hospital yet might be the question that needs to be asked by the stateside journalist? Just what is needed and where it is needed is the question to be asked by the journalist on the ground in Haiti.
Consider that the US is currently fighting two wars and another hospital is a bit harder to get to right now than it would be otherwise. The hospitals are there, you can bet on it. Where it is to come from is the question. Is it in the Army Reserves, the Air Force Reserves, or the War Reserves? The deeper they have to go to get to it, the longer it takes; obviously.
Before I forget this; the one thing we must all remember is that in a situation like this, it is the State Department that determines who goes in and where they go in. The exception to this is those US assets that are already under the direction of the United Nations. I spent many an hour on the tarmac at Fort Bragg, North Carolina while State made up their mind on just what the mission was to be and who//what would be the exact support package. I do not mean to cast dispersions here; it’s just a fact.
The supplies available addressed in the journalist’s piece were more disinformation than real information. She showed us a blood pressure cup supply that might be a real questionable piece as it seemed to be missing the cup; this is a small no matter of concern but not as major as what is actually there doing good. The open heart surgery kit was also displayed – OK. Maybe they aren’t doing open heart surgery there right now and may never do it; but these are all planned items that sometimes are appropriate and sometimes not. They are already in the pack and distributed as ‘guessed’. Nobody ahead of times knows exactly what is needed and to get the exact requirements takes far too long. A guess is made based on history and things start moving.
Besides the requirement to feed the hungry; the new requirement that comes along with a deployment of this nature is the need to feed the supporters: the US volunteers, the army, the navy, the air force, the foreigner volunteers, the PRESS CORPS, and the dignitaries just wanting to get face time in the area. All these need to be fed and nourished in order to continue to deliver the support they were sent there to provide.
The next wave of REAL requirements will probably be the on-site fuel situation. The distribution of Haitian fuel is most likely getting low and will soon have to be augmented. Dare say, the distribution of what fuel that is there is much hindered. The best of all situations is to resupply as much as possible out of the airfield assets. These assets will be heavily slanted to jet fuel and not ground fuel. I haven’t heard anything about the stationary assets at the airfield or anything about the remaining ability from the port area. But the ability to air-tanker (US Air Force) in fuel is always a real possibility and to store this fuel above ground in collapsible tanks (US Army) is quiet an easy task; State just has to levy the requirement. Again, the limiting factor may probably be the active assets available to do so. Then you go to Reserves and National Guard assets – takes a little longer, but not much – but this is why these support elements are in this status of readiness.
The PRESS CORPS plays us all for the newsworthy aspect and tends to depress us more than inform us. This is particularly true the longer the situation lasts. In this case, CNN has done us all a disservice. Take it from one who knows.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
System Failure - not an Individual Failure
President Obama today directed that ALL leads be investigated and followed up on.
Consider this: you could relate this direction somewhat to the policies that President Reagan took in the 80s that forced the then USSR to spend itself into oblivion. Al Qaeda could take the same approach with the US by following the general principles used by Reagan. Let’s assume that if I were the operations officer for al Qaeda right now; I would begin taking the following actions. First, I would start leaking names, plots, actions, etc. to the filters of US intelligence agencies as fast as I could. Second, I would insure believability in these plots//actions by following through on just enough to lend credence to the overall. They obviously have the martyr wantabe-ers to do whatever it takes to blow up a plane, ship, embassy or other like asset whenever they want.
Where will this lead us in the future? Think of the $$s and the personnel commitment that this will take. Wait, I’m not saying that we do nothing – no way. We or any other country do not have the funds or the trained personnel to undertake an ‘ALL’ situation. There are literally thousands of flights coming into and going out of the US every day; yes, every day. Do we put an air marshal on every one? Where will we get them? Don’t even go near the port issue; we just sweep that one under the rug continually. At what cost to the local, state and wherever law enforcement agencies will this have? There has to be more thought put into this than the ‘ALL’ approach – just maybe this was just puff talk.
Additionally consider the volume of personnel increases that it will take for the Intelligence agencies to start analyzing the glut of information they get now and might have to begin looking at in the future under an ‘ALL’ approach to intelligence analysis. This is tantamount to a complete reversal of yesterday’s advancement program to graduate more engineers and scientist. This program would have to be scraped immediately and analysis agents start being trained both in the nation’s colleges and on the job.
I don’t think these guys have any real idea concerning the glut of information that is out there to be analyzed.
I don’t have the answers but I know a bad direction when I hear it!
Consider this: you could relate this direction somewhat to the policies that President Reagan took in the 80s that forced the then USSR to spend itself into oblivion. Al Qaeda could take the same approach with the US by following the general principles used by Reagan. Let’s assume that if I were the operations officer for al Qaeda right now; I would begin taking the following actions. First, I would start leaking names, plots, actions, etc. to the filters of US intelligence agencies as fast as I could. Second, I would insure believability in these plots//actions by following through on just enough to lend credence to the overall. They obviously have the martyr wantabe-ers to do whatever it takes to blow up a plane, ship, embassy or other like asset whenever they want.
Where will this lead us in the future? Think of the $$s and the personnel commitment that this will take. Wait, I’m not saying that we do nothing – no way. We or any other country do not have the funds or the trained personnel to undertake an ‘ALL’ situation. There are literally thousands of flights coming into and going out of the US every day; yes, every day. Do we put an air marshal on every one? Where will we get them? Don’t even go near the port issue; we just sweep that one under the rug continually. At what cost to the local, state and wherever law enforcement agencies will this have? There has to be more thought put into this than the ‘ALL’ approach – just maybe this was just puff talk.
Additionally consider the volume of personnel increases that it will take for the Intelligence agencies to start analyzing the glut of information they get now and might have to begin looking at in the future under an ‘ALL’ approach to intelligence analysis. This is tantamount to a complete reversal of yesterday’s advancement program to graduate more engineers and scientist. This program would have to be scraped immediately and analysis agents start being trained both in the nation’s colleges and on the job.
I don’t think these guys have any real idea concerning the glut of information that is out there to be analyzed.
I don’t have the answers but I know a bad direction when I hear it!
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Truck Rider Safety Procedures Initiated
Due to the recent situations regarding rider security, I am forced to initiate several new rider safety procedures. These procedures will be placed into effect immediately. Passengers not complying with the rules will forfeit their rider-ship privileges immediately, Senior Truck Deputy Fife will consult with you and if found to be in non-compliance, deposited on the side of the road as soon as the situation allows.
I have gone to the trouble to consult with those guys at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Jethro Bodine. Each of the consultants has approved these new procedures as probably just as good an idea as I might have.
If I can not either read or pronounce at least one of your names on my first try, you can not ride in my truck.
If your first name sounds like your last name, you can not ride in my truck.
If your hat doesn’t meet gimme-cap standards, you can not ride in my truck.
If you are dressed in the same bed sheets that you slept in last night, you can not ride in my truck.
If you desire to wash your face during a scheduled trip; wash water (only at scheduled rest stops) will be provided from the bag truck management maintains hanging from the front bumper.
Every individual entering into the truck will be fully searched to any degree the driver sees fit to accomplish prior to entering my truck; no exceptions. I bought a new four cell flashlight, equipped with one of those nifty blue lenses for this purpose. Additionally, a big jug of bleach has been procured that will be used to test for any unsafe chemicals and stuff like that.
You are authorized a single carry on and it must fit where I put it or it will be left behind; no exceptions.
All luggage is subject to whatever inspection I deem fit to undertake; no exceptions.
You can look out the window on your side of my truck, but only once every fifteen minutes and not at all during the last hour of any scheduled trip.
You will remain in your seat at all times. There will no longer be free access to other areas of the passenger compartment.
Bathroom (or potty breaks, if you like) will be taken on a schedule established with in the first fifteen minutes of any scheduled trips. Passengers will not be allowed unscheduled bathroom breaks; twelve ounce Coke bottles will be provided upon request.
Galley operations or scheduled food breaks will be coordinated with the driver prior to departure.
There probably will not be any peanuts consumed during any trip in my truck.
Other rules, procedures and good ideas are still in the planning stage and will be implemented as soon as I think of them.
I have gone to the trouble to consult with those guys at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Jethro Bodine. Each of the consultants has approved these new procedures as probably just as good an idea as I might have.
If I can not either read or pronounce at least one of your names on my first try, you can not ride in my truck.
If your first name sounds like your last name, you can not ride in my truck.
If your hat doesn’t meet gimme-cap standards, you can not ride in my truck.
If you are dressed in the same bed sheets that you slept in last night, you can not ride in my truck.
If you desire to wash your face during a scheduled trip; wash water (only at scheduled rest stops) will be provided from the bag truck management maintains hanging from the front bumper.
Every individual entering into the truck will be fully searched to any degree the driver sees fit to accomplish prior to entering my truck; no exceptions. I bought a new four cell flashlight, equipped with one of those nifty blue lenses for this purpose. Additionally, a big jug of bleach has been procured that will be used to test for any unsafe chemicals and stuff like that.
You are authorized a single carry on and it must fit where I put it or it will be left behind; no exceptions.
All luggage is subject to whatever inspection I deem fit to undertake; no exceptions.
You can look out the window on your side of my truck, but only once every fifteen minutes and not at all during the last hour of any scheduled trip.
You will remain in your seat at all times. There will no longer be free access to other areas of the passenger compartment.
Bathroom (or potty breaks, if you like) will be taken on a schedule established with in the first fifteen minutes of any scheduled trips. Passengers will not be allowed unscheduled bathroom breaks; twelve ounce Coke bottles will be provided upon request.
Galley operations or scheduled food breaks will be coordinated with the driver prior to departure.
There probably will not be any peanuts consumed during any trip in my truck.
Other rules, procedures and good ideas are still in the planning stage and will be implemented as soon as I think of them.
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